Parents, when the troubled waters get high. My kids and I had decided to take a short 45 minute float down the river and back up the creek adjacent to my father’s property on the French Broad River in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. My daughter and her friend decided they wanted to float in a tube, while the other two of us chose the canoe. The river was flowing just fast enough for a lazy relaxing float in the cool water. Crickets and Cicadas were singing their Summer songs together as the water gently lapped the side of the canoe. I would be looking for the little swirls that formed as I paddled to see if I was paddling properly according to the instruction of my canoe savvy boy scout leader many years ago. We launched the two tubers (not to be confused with potatoes or other underground vegetables, though at points that Summer they may or may not have been considered couch potatoes, boredly staring at their multiple screened devices). I pushed the canoe from the still waters of the launch into the slow downstream flow. The dog, who was still on shore and could easily walk down river on the bank to the take out point not too far away, for some reason, became very scared that her humans in that pointy ended aluminum watercraft were leaving her forever. So, she ran up and down the river bank barking and whining. Finally, she could take it no more and jumped into the water from the bank. She swam to the canoe and I knew that she couldn’t swim the whole way and she would not return to shore. I worked with my canoe mate in counterbalancing the tip prone hull so we could throw the dog into the boat, before she threw us all into the water. So much for a relaxing float. By this time the floating girls in tubes had decided to hop off their rubber river doughnuts and explore the island’s rocks and pebbles. About that time we were passing in front of my Dad’s place… He was standing on the bank excitedly trying to get our attention. From his experience on the river, he knew what was about to happen. He could see the water was rapidly rising and moving much more swiftly because the Dam, several miles upstream, had begun releasing much more water and it was about to get very dangerous. The lazy river we had launched our canoe and tubes into was becoming much more treacherous by the minute. We were able to quickly get the girls off the island, put them in the canoe and tie the tubes to the back of the canoe. The gunnel was just a couple of inches from the waterline, being loaded down with three medium sized tweens, a medium dog and one large human. We made it through the small rapids and paddled hard for the mouth of the creek that would take us out of the fast water and into the safety of the still creek. My father had made it on land to the take out point and helped us disembark, then load the small boat, tubes, wet dog and preteens onto the souped up golf cart, known as the “bad boy buggy,” and took us to the security of log home. Happy to be safe, we all talked excitedly about our adventure as we downed the snacks that always followed a river adventure.
So many times our God protects us and keeps us safe. He can see what’s coming and warns us with His Word. The Psalmist had seen God’s hand of protection on His people and wrote to remind us of who our God is. He says, “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah” Psalm 46:1-7 (NKJV) When we get into rough waters, God is with us, He is our strength even when nature wreaks havoc… The God who spoke creation into being can simply say the word and bring us through any disaster. He is also the God of eternity who saves us eternally when the storm appears to overwhelm us completely.
Hang in there people! God is with us! I’m praying for us all!
