River Rules

When my son returned from a deployment that was at the same time risky and monotonous he was looking for adventure. He has a ready-made group in his family so he extended an invite to join him on a white-water rafting trip. In the latter part of the summer weeks away, all of this sounded fun. In the dipping 50F temperatures of an early fall, this felt like risky business.

The week before the trip the questions came. Will we need wet suits? What other gear should we bring? How long is the trip? What skill level is this river run? Importantly to the current state of my body, Will I have to kneel? and Where are the bathrooms?

On the bus ride to put in, I began to wonder about my adventure capacity when one of the guides stood up and faced us shouting over the bus engine the River Rules. I felt like a paratrooper in one of those WWII movies about to be pushed out of the plane on my first jump.

Here are the River Rules.

1. The Guide – Listen to him.
2. The Equipment -Keep your hand on the paddle the whole time.
3. The Recovery – Don’t stand up in the river if you fall out.

Each rule had more details associated with each but as I thought about these rules they seemed pretty universal to a path not yet traveled.

Guides – According to another of our guides there was another river that was well known for its increase in technical level. I understood this to mean you had to know what to do and when to do it with little margin for error. What got my attention was when he said, “You can’t learn that river on your own and make it through safely. You have to go with a guide who’s already been down that river.” Isn’t it interesting to consider that if you employ a guide you have to be told and reminded to listen to the guide? Several times I repeatedly heard the lead instructor say, “Listen to the guide. If you fall out of the raft they will be shouting instructions so listen for them. Obey their instructions. They have your best interests in mind.”

Throughout our trip down the rapids, the guide was giving us instructions and encouragement. On the second run, I made sure to get in the raft with the same guide. I had made it to the other side without taking a spill although there were definite near misses.

The equipment didn’t get as much attention as the guide. In fact, it seemed an extension of the guide. Each guide had their own commands for using the paddle but all gave the universal instruction to keep your hands on your paddle. You know the rules exist because in a crisis, human nature would be to throw away the very thing you need to navigate safely.

Even with all the expertise and equipment, there was a plan for recovery. A plan for when someone goes overboard. The rapids are best experienced in a raft on the water not in the water on your own.

Recovery- Do not stand up in the river. What is below the water line can trap you. Feet and ankles can get pinned in rocks. The force of the current will push you down and under. Even in very shallow water, the force of the current will carry you in surprising ways. Instead of standing you first aggressively swim to the boat or take whatever is handed to you to pull you in. If all else fails the answer is to float. Let the current carry you.

We actually needed the recovery plan when one of the boats hit a rock and someone in our group went overboard.

As I continue to think of the life journey ahead of me I am grateful for the guides, equipment, and recovery choices I have in my life. As a Christ-follower who believes we are created for community having people in your life who you can trust because of their faith and their experience is vital to the adventure.

Do you have guides in your life you can count on?