River of Life

One hot summer day in Cincinnati, Ohio, my college girlfriend and I decided to take advantage of the gorgeous weather by taking a road trip to a river so we could go canoeing. We packed a cooler with cold beverages, some munchies, and a change of clothes in case we experienced an unplanned swim.

During the two hour car ride, we reminisced about our shared experiences. We were filled with anticipation and excitement and were looking forward to our quickly approaching adventure, in much the same way a child looks forward to opening Christmas presents on Christmas Day. We quickly put on our life jackets, climbed in our rented canoe, and paddled our way from the shore onto the wide open river. As we gracefully glided down the pristine waters, I paused for a moment to enjoy the beauty of the scenery around us. A feeling of peace overtook our souls. We were simply there to enjoy our time together. Life was good.

The tranquility of the moment was shattered as a shift in the direction and strength of the wind caused us to quickly drift closer to the shoreline at an alarming rate. As we bumped along the riverbank, the flow of the water became stronger and caused us to lose control of the canoe. Without warning, the canoe tipped, and dumped us into the water. The cool water covering my body brought a welcome refreshing sensation to my skin-baked skin. Just for a second, time stood still.

The serenity of that peaceful time was short-lived as a strong current came and separated my girlfriend and I, sending us downstream in different directions. I was now completely alone. Adding to the feeling of isolation was the horror when I realized I had not made it to the surface and had to continue to hold my breath.

As I tried frantically to reach the surface, I realized I was no match for the untamed power of the river. As I traveled downstream underwater, a sickening feeling came over me. I realized I was trapped under the water, the life jacket which I thought would help this situation was now acting as a weight pinning me helplessly under the water. I was now at the mercy of Mother Nature.

After what seemed like an eternity to me, I reached a point in the river where the water was calm and I was able to stand. I feverishly scanned the area searching for my lost girlfriend. Spotting her a short distance away, a feeling of relief came over me. I was grateful to be reunited with my girlfriend and although we were soaked to the bone, we were both thankful to be alive. We shared a wet, yet loving embrace. What started out as a quiet, enjoyable trip down the river, turned out to be a life altering experience.

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As this story demonstrates, sometimes we are not in control of the path our river of life takes. We may think we are in charge of our own destiny but in an instant, an event can change the course of our lives forever. This canoeing trip was one memorable experience I am sharing with you. The rest of this book contains stories about the places which have created special memories, the events which have altered my perspective about the meaning of life, and the people who have made a difference by guiding me down my river of life.