The Way

I was 15 the first time I went kayaking in the ocean. My father had to teach at a conference and I was able to tag along. About a half a mile down the beach from our hotel was a rental shop and I couldn’t help but notice the sit-on-top Kayaks stacked outside. A new adventure was calling and a half day rental seemed the perfect balance of investment and opportunity. Dad would need to keep an eye on me while he prepared for his class and we were in a car so I would have to travel the half mile to and from the hotel by sea. The tide was fine for paddling to the hotel but the trip back would be demanding. I convinced my father to let me accept the challenge and off I went.

The trip down to our beach spot—following the several attempts it took for me to wrestle the kayak past the breakers—was peaceful and relaxing. When I arrived at the hotel’s beach my dad was there ready to watch while he worked. I spent a little time floating, paddling, and floating again getting familiar with what it took to remain in my dad’s field of vision. The waves kept crashing, their sound beckoning me to try to ride them to the shore. I knew that riding “in” would result in having to get myself and the kayak back “out” but…I had come all this way already right? I pointed the nose toward the beach and engaged the waves. It was exciting to paddle into the break, immediately the wave took over and I was cruising. Soon the nose of the kayak started to pull left with the tide, the kayak turned quickly, and I got to roll over. It was so much fun! I fought my way back out and because of what I had learned on my first run most of the rest of my “rides” resulted in the nose (of the kayak) hitting the beach first.

It was getting close to time to return the kayak. Every second I played meant a harder paddle against the tide to get back by the deadline. When I finally started back I had a very small margin for error. The return trip was a grueling test of endurance but I returned the kayak with almost two minutes to spare.

Jesus is the Way

Jesus’ Way is often described as the one of most resistance but it can also be the path of least. There are times following God’s path where we will have to work hard and embrace challenges. There will also be times where we have a powerful push behind us and our only task will be to keep our boat pointed in the right direction. God’s Way doesn’t always make sense. It yields the greatest of results yet its value isn’t always clearly recognizable. One thing that is true is that the human soul longs for this Way and it is the only thing that will actually quench our thirst.

“Jesus answered, “ I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14:6‬ ‭CEB‬