I found myself riding with
a very inexperienced 6th grader who, through no fault of their own,
knew absolutely nothing about kayaking, let alone how to steer while paddling.
I found myself surrounded by students vigorously trying to get across the
water, yet going in circles or accidentally ramming into one another and
myself. Again, not their fault. For most of them it was their first time in a
boat, let alone a kayak that they were supposed to move in a specific
direction. This is one of those situations where you really shouldn’t take life
too seriously. You try to explain, demonstrate, cheer, and hope for the best. Needless
to say, I did most of the heavy lifting on this one. We were going nowhere
fast, but we were having fun, well I guess most of us were.
So what is your response
when you feel like you are spinning your wheels? It’s taken me many years, but
I have grown to understand that when this happens, you need to look for a
cause. Sometimes we will just find out we’re doing it wrong. But as a believer
in “divine appointments” - those times where God has put you in the right spot,
at the right time, with the right tools to be a help to someone. I’ve noticed
that very often, if you really pay attention, there is someone or something
that God wants you to notice. It might be a situation that is totally unrelated
to you current predicament that He desires you to notice. Call it a side-line
if you will, but it might just be the best thing you do all day. It could be a
need, a project, or a hurting person. It just might be that God needed to slow
you down from you 90 mph day so that it/they would get your attention. So if you ever have that feeling of going
nowhere fast, try this.
1. Stop and take notice.
Are you doing something wrong, or is there someone in need.
2. Pray that God would
guide you to where you need to be, both physically and in your awareness around
you.
3. Look for those “divine
appointments”. They happen more often than you think.
4. Leave those people and
places you touch that day a little better for you being there.
5. Follow the leading of
the Holy Spirit. (And don’t argue with him in your head. You will find out that
God also has a sense of humor.)
It takes being in the
moment, being aware of what is happening around us. It takes a little work on
our part, but being someone’s hero for the day is a great place to end up. It
might just help you stop spinning your own wheels and get you on with your day –
only this time with a smile on your face.
