canoeing = life revelation via Sean MM

IT WAS SAVED SOMEHOW!!! I LOVE BLOGGIN :)Now I feel like I shouldn't have said it was funny - I didn't think anyone would be able to see it ever again! oh well....

So this weekend was a great weekend. This week is a great week. A bit busy with wedding funness (yes its a word) hence why I am writing about the weekend on Wednesday - halfway to the next weekend, but I think I learned a few little lessons this week.

a) Never canoe with Stef Shaf. She sucks at steering and runs you into trees and blames it on you the whole time
b) Before you marry someone, go canoeing with them. For like 6 hours. And make it be hot out and the river have shallow, cold water,and make the stream have lots of trees and debris in it. Then see if you still want to marry the person because I PROMISE their true self will come out.
c) Canoeing can make you learn a lot about yourself.

Let me tell you a little story. There were two girls. We are going to call them Marie and Fets. Marie and Fets were in a canoe with another girl Emily. Life was good when Emily was in the canoe because Marie was in the front paddling when felt like it, and Fets was in the middle minding her own business and focusing on tequila shots like a nice girl and Emily paddled the whole time. The girls rode along great with no problems at all. They were smooth sailing - no wrecks, no tipping, no arguing, just good ole canoeing. The girls stopped for lunch. Emily decides she sick of Marie and Fets (I don't really blame her) and she goes in a canoe with some guys. So, Marie and Fets have to fend for themselves. Marie just likes to float down the stream. Fets might be the most competitive person on the planet and wants to beat the canoe that holds their PREGNANT friend and husband. So Fets gets a bit fiesty. She says to Marie over 45 times to start paddling. But when Marie paddles, it sort of steers them because she is stronger than Fets. So, Fets and Marie run into multiple things. They include the following:
a) seaweed on the side of the stream
b) a tree that attacks Marie's head and leaves multiple twigs, leaves and branches in it
c) a stump that they hit head on and get whiplash because both of the girls were paddling like crazy
d) a tree that had fallen across the stream. this was the best one because of course Fets paddled and TRIED to steer (obviously she doesn't know how to steer) but the tree kind of clotheslined Marie in the front of the boat and she was stuck there trying to hold on to the tree as the current tried to pull their boat under. Pregnant friend and husband were laughing histerically at Marie because she was stuck under the tree for approx. 5 minutes while Fets was yelling and peeing her pants at the same time. Marie got out of the tree and Fets flew under and life was good. The freaking canoe ride was over, but Marie was a bit scratched up. Thank goodness Marie really likes Fets and she is moving to Seattle and Marie is a bit saddened by that, so it is making up for their hellish endeavor.

So here is my transition that is sort of like Sean MM. You know, the story then the illustration that has something to do with life/God. I am determined to learn something about God from this canoe experience. Here are a few things that I learned in all seriousness:
a) Being in a canoe is like being in a relationship. Friendships, dating, marriage, menor/mentoree, etc. Both people have to work hard and focus in order for it to be smooth sailing. Both people need to adjust to the other person's needs. If one person wants to relax the other person needs to be aware and willing to accomodate that. If one person wants to speed up, the other person needs to be aware of that. There also needs to be constant communication. The person in front needs to let the person in back know what's coming. Both people need to communicate how they are feeling and ways the other person can help them. Also, tone is everything. If you ask someone to paddle nicely they are more willing to do it than if they are asked in an annoyed tone. Same question - two totally different meanings. Ah, being inside a female's brain. One person can't do all the work or it doesn't work out right. Both people need to do their share.
b) Sometimes life comes at you fast. You hit obstacles and you have a few options. You can push through - you might get a few leaves on your head, but they are easily brushed off. You can go at them head on - you might get whiplash, but that only lasts for a little bit. You can try and avoid them and they clothesline you - people may laugh, but realize they are laughing with you, not at you. You can work through them with other people. This may be the best option. You get to laugh a whole bunch and its easier to go through stuff with someone rather than on your own.
c) I'm wondering if guys have the same problems as girls in a canoe.
d) God still loves you, even if you suck at canoeing.