Analogies of Life in the Whitewater

This is a reminder of your short Life in the Whitewater on the Clark Fork, Alberton Gorge.

The more you think about it, the more you realize that whitewater rafting is very much like your Life in the Whitewater of real life.  Hopefully you took away memories of heart pounding, adrenaline pumping, wave crashing excitement, as well as those breath taking pristine calm moments of reflection and preparation for the next adventure.

Just like real life.

We introduced you to the Laws of Whitewater. What to look out for, and the best ways to have the most enjoyment.   We trained you to die to your self desires and work as a team for the benefit of the whole raft.   You learned to follow the instructions of the guide and either had a wild yahoo, or perhaps fearful challenges when things went wrong.   You were trained how to rescue team members and probably used it when they went in the river.   Perhaps you even experienced being rescued yourself.   We also saw people on the sides of the wild rapid sections watching to see how well we did.   Having been down the rapids before they were watching our every move in anticipation of a remarkable run or they were let down when we took the safe path for the timid and unskilled.   We only have one shot at life, then we take out.  When our trip is over, it is over.  We will only take what we have become and the memories.  This however, was just training for the real thing.   When our time is over, we will reflect on our adventures and memories of our real Life in the Whitewater forever.

Glossary of Christian rafting terms

Life Jacket -  Jesus.   Life Jacket provided by the guides.  Your choice to receive the gift free for the taking, however you can’t get on the river without it.     John 1:18, Ephesians 2:8-9

Paddle – Your gift to be used for the benefit of all on the team. We teach you but your skill must be cultivated by you and used for all.   If you stop paddling we all suffer. 1Peter 4:10-11

Raft – The church, the vehicle God uses, the team of people that does His work.   Ephesians 4:11-16

Guide -  The Holy Spirit.  He knows the way and guides us, if we listen. He knows the team and if they are ready for the big waves or if they are not working together, they get relegated to the small less rewarding path. John 10, 15, 16:5

Instruction – God’s Word that we may not sin.  If we ignore and break it, we cause pain for ourselves and/or those around us.   Psalm 119:11

Teamwork -     Together we go in style and can accomplish much more than separately.  We were created to work together in relationship with God and others. 1 Corinthians 12:24-27, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Onlookers –     The great cloud of witness that observe how we are running the river of life.  A yahoo or a boo.  Photographs are recording forever, our journey in the whitewater.   Hebrews 12:1

Rescue -   Restoration, the process of pulling one fallen onto wild waters back into the raft to be productive again.  You must prepare yourself and relationship with others before you get in the whitewater.  Galatians 6:12

The Float- Time to reflect on the lessons from the Guide and prepare for what lies ahead.  Time to rest.

Take out – Heaven.   This journeys destination.  Your trip is only training for your real destiny.   Phillipians 3:12-14

Remember the lessons learned in YOUR journey of Life In the Whitewater1 Peter 1:13-16

You have the free will to chose how wild the rafting adventure.  From that choice the memories will be yours forever.

Now get ready for the real Life in the Whitewater.

“for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” 2 Cor. 4:18

You only go down once. MAKE IT COUNT!!!

Life stories:

“I almost drowned as a kid so I was scared to death of going over.  I did go in, but I fought my giant and won. Not afraid anymore. Bring it on.”

“I realized that I needed to build relationships in my real life, because doing life myself wasn’t working well.”

“This was the best father – son time we have ever had.” Dad

“It was cool doing something wild with my dad” Son

“I was floating down life with no purpose or urgency.  I realized I needed to change that. If I didn’t, it would soon be over and empty.  I am now active in two groups. One that helps me and one where I help others. Just getting going.”