Tawana's Rafting Habitude

Whitewater Rafting Trip

To begin I didn’t want to go. I tried to think of every reason why I shouldn’t go. The one deciding factor was that I had to go. I kept protesting that we shouldn’t be made to do something that we don’t want to. One of the things that stuck with me from the workshops was that sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zones. On the way there I kept thinking of all the worst possible scenarios that could happen to me in the water. As I sat down in the raft all of my fears and doubts disappeared. I knew that GOD heard all my prayers. Although we had a guide the success of the adventure depended on teamwork. I looked around me and saw the smile on Renea’s face, the confidence in Andy’s eyes, and the sense of comfort that was beaming from Ansylee's face. It was then that I knew everything really would be all right. I trusted these wonderful three people that surrounded me even though we had only met a week before. The ride was thrilling, shocking and shaky at times. I had more fun that I could have ever imagined. I planted my feet just like Ellie, the guide, told me to and I rowed in the directions that she instructed me to do so in. Things were going smoothly and we hit a rocky point that was when Ansylee went in. I didn’t have time to think I reached out and grabbed her with my right hand and held on to her. I was not going to let her go. Renea took my paddle and I was able to hold onto her with both hands and then Andy helped me pull back into the raft. After all it’s not about me. I spent so much time today before the trip thinking about all of the bad things that could happen to me. I am here to help others and be their support. I am a shoulder to lean on, a friend, a sister in Christ, a teammate, or maybe just a hand. It occurred to me tonight that my calling is to reach out to others. I can do this, this summer as well as when I am teaching. The Lord works in mysterious ways. I believe that everything happens for a reason even if we pretend to be blind and not see it. He brought me here this summer for a reason, and Ansylee and I were put in that raft together for a reason. You see GOD reached out, held on and pulled me back in from the rushing waters. Sometimes we just need a reminder.