“You drown not by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it.”—Paulo Coelho
A number of years ago, I went whitewater rafting on the New River in West Virginia. Our boat flipped in a Class V rapid (According to the American Whitewater Association, a Class V rapid is an extremely long, obstructed, or very violent rapids that exposes a paddler to greater risk). I was caught in what is called a hydraulic or a “hole”—where the water churns and rolls over itself. Trying to fight a hydraulic and swim up only pushes the swimmer down. The best escape is to relax and let the water push you up and out of the hole.
I haven’t been whitewater rafting since that day. It is not out of fear. Rather, I recognized when rafting, I am dependent upon others. So, I took up kayaking. My intent was to take up whitewater kayaking, but I failed to recognize two important points: 1) despite the number of cities with “Rapids” in the name, there are few, if any, significant rapids in Michigan, where I was living, and 2) at 6’5”, there are few whitewater kayaks in which I can comfortably fit. So, I took up kayaking in the gentler rivers and lakes (which have in themselves their own unique challenges). I need to go rafting again, because, like life, it is necessary sometimes to face challenges in community—and, of course, I enjoy the thrill.
Sometimes, in life, we can get caught in a “hole”. We expend unnecessary energy fighting the current. We struggle to get ourselves out. The struggle just drives us deeper and exhausts us. In such situations, it is best to just relax.
We have all heard the statement: “This too shall pass.” Rarely are our troubles permanent. Rarely should our troubles be able to control us. We have a choice in allowing ourselves to be overwhelmed by difficulty or in taking control and responding appropriately to the circumstance. Sometimes we need to swim. Sometimes we need to float. Wisdom is knowing when.
If you are caught in a hydraulic or “hole”, pause. Relax. Assess the situation. Whatever you do, don’t panic. Panic never ends well. The river of life always provides a place to rest. Be patient, and it will come.
Carpe momento!