📷: Erin M. Camacho
Why I am talking about taking on water but in the same breath, baseball? Probably because I am overwhelmed myself and I can’t keep everything straight.
Life recently threw me a curve ball and I find myself limping to first base. I lived in the same small town (population 6000) for the last eight plus years, and I was comfortable. The most amazing friends ever, a good job, and a huge supportive community, truly unlike anything I have ever experienced. Then my hubby got accepted to grad school and we packed up and went from our safe and secure small town to crazy town… and by crazy town, I mean Chi-town, the Windy City, yeppers, Chicago.
The Motor Boat
This is where the water analogy comes in. I saw a small motor boat during a storm in Michigan recently and it was taking on a lot of water. I watched and waited and expected at any moment it would succumb to the weight of the water and go under. As I watched it bob up and down I couldn’t help but feel a connection with that struggling little boat.
There have been times over the last couple weeks I felt I was taking on water. Like I might go under at any moment. So far, so good though, I am still afloat. As we moved out of our small Kentucky town, I had my parents and amazing friends who showed up to help me weather the storm. Our moving truck was too small and not enough people showed, we weren’t totally packed like we had planned. It was rough!!
Home Stretch
I thought I was on the home stretch once we were finally loaded. However, when we reached Chicago I started taking on wave upon wave of water. It threatened to take me under. I wondered if I could break our lease and run back to safety. It didn’t look safe (huge wave), we couldn’t find a place to park (small but persistent waves), the hallway leading to our new home smelled like feet (enormous wave), a small winding staircase our worldly possessions didn’t stand a chance of making it up the narrow stairs (tidal wave).
I was taking on water and I had to fight the tears that kept welling up in my eyes and the fear that kept overtaking my… everything.
The Comfort of Neighbors
Then, in what I saw as cold, scary, smelly, and dangerous Chicago, God sent smiling neighbors who made quick but calming connections with me and reassuring friends with text messages and words of strength and encouragement. With a few deep breaths I carried on and stayed afloat just like that tiny motor boat.
What I didn’t notice at first was that tiny motor boat and I had something else huge in common. We were both tightly connected to something strong and secure. For that little boat, it was the dock. No matter the beating it took from the waves, it was tied to the dock. It wasn’t going down.
God Keeps Me Afloat
I am tied to God. He is my dock, my strength, my protector and won’t let the waves take me down. He sent friends to lift me up, my parents and husband to help carry the burden, but more than that, I know that he brought us here. God orchestrated this change and even though transition is hard, I know he’s got my back. I know he will help me weather the storm and help keep me afloat even when I feel like the waves might take me down.
What are your waves? Are you connected to something strong to help keep you afloat even when you are taking on water?
Be strong my friends- life can get tough.
Be brave my friends- you can take more than you know and on the other side of the fear is something really good.
