Return to the River

Every summer, one of my favorite things to do is go kayaking.

Two years ago, I went kayaking on the Tualatin River and chose to paddle upstream. It was so peaceful—calm waters, a slow current, birds and critters singing around me. About thirty minutes in, I came upon a beaver dam. But right in the middle of it, I noticed water flowing through. I floated back a little, built up enough speed, and paddled hard into the center. Miraculously, I made it through.

From that moment on, I realized: as a human in a kayak, I was the only one there who could push past that point. I lingered a while, then turned around and let the current carry me gently back downstream.

Last summer, I went out with the same plan—thirty minutes upstream, then drifting home. But the current was a bit stronger than the year before. I gave it my all, paddling fast, but couldn’t make it past the same point. I turned around and tried again. This time, I capsized.

And right away, I remembered: my keys and cell phone were in my pocket.

I quickly pulled them out, held them high above the water with one hand, and clung to the kayak with the other. I kicked until I could touch the riverbed, then stood and slowly made my way to shore. I drained the water from the kayak, thankful for a bit of dry ground and the lesson of the day.

It’s become a running joke now—that I have to go visit my friends, the beavers. The weather’s warming again, and it might be time. If the dam is still there, I’ll try to get through it again. If not, I’ll walk around and hop back in where the river lets me.

Sometimes, life is like that. You can plan your course, paddle hard, and still get turned around or soaked unexpectedly. But grace shows up—in the dry ground, in a floating phone, in another chance to try again.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you…”
—Isaiah 43:2

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You for meeting us in our adventures—even when they leave us a little wet, humbled, or off course. Remind us that we’re never alone in the river. May we keep paddling forward, eyes fixed on Your grace, and trust You to guide us past every dam and through every current. Amen.

_{Illustration by Finn Jones–06/07/2025}