Many of you have seen the photos of my terrifyingly wonderful experience rafting the level 4 & 5 rapids of the Nile, and if you haven’t I have conveniently placed some of them throughout this blog for your visual enjoyment.
I loved every second of it… except for maybe the helpless seconds trapped under the raft searching for the air that I could have sworn existed somewhere above. Each time our guide told us to start paddling into the next rapid, my senses heightened and my adrenaline pumped wildly. I’m not sure if I’ve ever felt so alert and alive as in those moments.
But I’m not writing to share all the details of my watery adventure… Nor am I writing to share how trusting our guide to keep us safe down the rapids is a good analogy for how we should trust in the Lord… although it is.
I’m writing to share what happened in between the excitement of the churning rapids, when we leisurely floated down the river and even took some time to jump out and swim around.
After attempting and failing to fight our way into “The Bad Place,” a section of rapids that spun around like perhaps what you would imagine a black-hole to look like, we hit a stretch of slow-moving water.
Freweini, my joy and Spirit-filled squad-mate, exclaimed that she loved Jesus and believed that it wasn’t an accident that Solomon*, a rock-solid 21-year-old Ugandan, was our guide. She then asked Solomon if he loved Jesus.
Solomon hesitated before replying something along the lines of, “Yes… I think so.” Freweini replied, “I’m just asking you this because I’m a very curious person, but did you pause because you had to think about it?” Solomon said yes because he didn’t know very much about Jesus. He explained that he’s only heard little bits from various people about Jesus loving us and being our savior. But he didn’t know why he loved us, or what he was even saving us from.
That day, between extreme moments of adrenaline pumping excitement, my raft-mates and I were able to share the gospel with Solomon for the first time. And he was able to get some clarity on the mysteries surrounding his understanding of Christianity… except for maybe his question regarding the Trinity, which may have made him even more confused.
After patiently listening to everything, Solomon thoughtfully asked me, “Does this mean I have to start going to church now?” I couldn’t help but smile, but I explained to him the importance of Christian community and accountability.
I agree with Freweini; I don’t think it was a coincidence that Solomon was guiding our raft.
Earlier that day, he openly shared with us that only a couple weeks prior to our adventure down the Nile, his best friend and fellow colleague kayaked down a level 6 rapid without a helmet or life vest. A few days later, his body washed up on the side of the river. Solomon understood the stupidity of his friend’s actions and he seemed to be surprisingly at peace with the devastating occurrence.
But when you lose someone that close to you, it doesn’t leave you unchanged. It makes you question what life is really about. And I can bet that even though Solomon didn’t pray any prayers that day, something inside his heart and mind shifted.
He was finally given the corrective lenses needed to bring clarity to who Jesus is, this Jesus that he has heard of his whole life. He met authentic Christians striving to live their lives for Jesus by loving others, unlike some of the corrupt churches he was unfortunately familiar with in Uganda. And thanks to something called the Internet, I'll be able to keep in touch with him as he explores Christianity and discovers what his life can look like in relationship with Jesus.
*name has been changed to respect the privacy of this person
