Swimming Sideways

 

I got caught in an undertow in the 7th Grade. Our school took the 7th-12th graders on a fun outing to one of the most beautiful beaches of my childhood.

My best friend couldn't go, so I ventured out into the water alone. The water was so refreshing. I floated, looked up at the beautiful clouds and daydreamed about everything!

When it came time to swim back to shore, something caught my foot. I now understand why we need swimming buddies. I had never heard of an undertow. It was strong, pulling me out to sea fast. I paddled as hard as I could, flailing sometimes, but wasn't giving up. 

I then noticed something: The surface water was going into shore, and if I could stay on top and swim in, I knew I'd make it. 

But it wasn't so simple as the undertow was about two feet below me, so dipping just slightly into that current whisked me back out to sea.

I yelled for help, but the people behind me and the people on the beach didn't respond. All I wanted was to be on dry land with my friends, having a good time. 

Meanwhile, I rested from time to time by floating and enjoying the Windows 95 day.

The real ordeal lasted about 30 minutes, but it felt longer. Once I got to shore, it took what felt like another 30 minutes to find my group. Being nearsighted didn't help either. I know I was a sight to strangers peeking under umbrellas.

I don't think I was ever so happy as the moment I found my friends! I recall flopping down on the sand, exhausted. I believe I fell asleep for a long time as I looked like a boiled lobster that night. It took me a couple of days to heal and I missed school the following Monday.

But then I was as good as new! I thanked God for literally slowing my mind down enough to run a viable solution passed my panic.

You'd think I'd hate the beach, but it is one of my favorite places. I can't wait to get there, set up the umbrella and wade out into the water!

Maybe you are in a circumstantial undertow. Maybe it's been so long that you wonder if you ever were on dry land. You yell for help. No one comes. You try to describe what's going on. It seems unreal. No response. People do care, but may not understand what's going on. It's okay. 

As Dori in Finding Nemo says, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."

But yes, you were on dry land once. You basked in the sunshine and felt the wind on your face, and you will again. Get the rest you need. You've gone through something big, but it didn't get you down. 

Now you're ready to tell your story. If you try to tell it in the middle of the panic, it will come out wrong, backwards, upsidedown. But once you've rested, you will realize by God's loving grace you got through it and are stronger, kinder, more patient and a better listener. And now you can help others with the lessons you learned. In fact, you may find some humor in parts of your story given time.

I can still see the people jumping when I looked under the umbrellas. I jumped myself. In fact, I am so glad I happened to pick the right direction when I headed up the beach. Imagine if I had chosen the other direction? They might still be looking for me!

Someone told me later in life what to do if caught in an undertow:

Swim sideways.

It can be a handy life philosophy as well.

Swimming sideways can be whatever it takes to get you out of any life loop; it's healing, it's rescue, it's life-saving. If you try to swim into shore, you will exhaust yourself.

Just swim sideways...not forwards, not backwards, sideways as fast as you can and you'll be away from the current quicker than you can say "something's got my foot and I can't get out"!

But you can get out.

In these unprecedented times, I echo the words being said globally, We'll get through this. I don't say this idealistically, nor disrespectfully, but I truly believe we will.

We will hug again, kiss on the cheeks, high five, chest bump, feel the love, have dreams and build a better tomorrow.

In closing, I thank God for our emergency and medical workers, our leaders, entertainers who keep us laughing, and family and friends who comfort and keep us connected! What are you thankful for?

The Source of All Goodness

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I woke up with goodness flourishing in my soul, wanting to share this gift that has made me so wealthy.

Today is a beautiful day. The sun is up as usual despite being hidden behind the clouds. It has not missed a beat. It is good to be on planet earth. The Creator opens each morning with goodness, a chance to renew what yesterday couldn't complete. In each baby step we step closer to the day we meet our Creator, and reaffirm goodness with every thought and action we have.

There is goodness all around. I know the Biblical story and its weightiness and have seen too many sadnesses and injustices to count, but His plan is still working. His story continues to be played out. How can I not rejoice in that? This same Book lifts my load. Without it my spirit dries up. It refreshes like a clear spring, cleanses and redirects my path, pointing me towards Goodness.

When life does not go my way, even in the least little thing, there is still goodness out there. I can still offer genuine love and humor in all I do. I can make life easier for someone else in some little way. That alone makes my day. I am rich beyond belief when I get to share a piece of my day with others and hear about their day. Though I cannot solve another's problem entirely, I can lift their load, if even for a moment. Now that's wealth worth spreading.

I have a choice. I can let the unjust bring me down, or I can go to the source of all goodness and return goodness for disappointment. It's so freeing to give God's goodness to another in the name of Jesus, even if He is not recognized. He recognizes my efforts, which is why I seek to see that in others.

I also can list my blessings, recent goodnesses and see how others are giving their best to me in the smallest of details. I have a wonderful husband whom I can speak to about anything. I don't know the fear of saying the wrong thing to my husband. I have said the wrong thing to John and he has always honored me with an ear and correct judgment. It encourages me to grow more in goodness and the love that swallows up fear. Is he perfect? No. But he is perfect for me. He has a huge reserve of goodness for me!

I have friends of all ages whom I love hearing from, whether they are being pressed or being blessed. In turn, they are so kind to hear me out with the positives and the challenges of my life. They give me a cup of goodness in every communication. How can one not be counted as wealthy?

How rich is one who is not under the pressure to perform for their esteem and value. We are loved just because we draw breath. How I love giving this kind of love to others. I wish there were more of me, which is why I write. It's a way to give more of me without being there in person.

Caveat-I know there are more like me, and I always get happy when I meet others seeking to make anothers life better in their own little way. And truth be known, everyone has the seed of goodness in them. Someone either didn't help them cultivate it, or they are denying their own path to goodness for their own reasons. This is why I pray, that they be released from whatever ails their soul from offering goodness, as I know others have prayed for me when I too have felt tempted to not be or do good.

I pray you know how loved you are. There is One God who is Love, perfect, perfectly capable of judging the world and others where I cannot. I am free to simply love and offer the best work I can. And when I fail, or see where I could have done better, I have a place to go. How can one not be moved at such great Love from Above. He is the source of all goodness and fills me when my cup is low.

Humor is God smiling on my soul, and to give a cup of good humor, is to give a cup of goodness.

Who can I bless today with the goodness I have been given? I pray you have been blessed with this little journey down goodness lane. Have a terrific day and when life doesn't go your way, step outside, look at God's handiwork. His fingerprint is everywhere in nature, and among any person who is doing the right thing, whether they recognize their Creator or not. I am the beneficiary of goodness, even in the most severe of my trials. How good it is to have a computer, be able to write good things and press "Send" so others can be good and blessed!

This post is dedicated to all of my employers, past and present. They have given me good work, even if for a season. I have learned so much in each work situation. I am a better person today because of the lessons I have learned under your tutelage. Today I am blessed with two good work situations that not only pay me back monetarily, but also in so many other little ways.