Parrots fly over us at 7:00 sharp, or so I am told, I haven´t really been up to see them, but I think I heard them once. Palenque has a lovely sidewalk to and from town that has brought strength to our legs and many stories to and fro. Palenque for many is a waking point in there faith. We struggle, but in a good way. We reflect and see the pieces fit, we look ahead and the blurring is ever so a little clearer. We eat, sleep and talk life.
Waking up in my own watery way
Sunday we played amongst the other tourists and locals in a beautiful creation of God´s. Perhaps you can find a picture on somebody elses blog. In my second attempt at crossing the river, up and around an on top was our destination for a good dive (or flip for me) off the top. Candice and Chad were crossing so I tagged along and knew the secret of crossing, stay high and together. The first part was also the most fierce as a U shaped chute drug the bulk of the rivers coming together in the pool ahead. It was the only way to cross. Candice went low and started to lose it, her secure footing soon turned into desperate scrapes on hands and knees. I reached out and our hands met, much to the delight of Chad. But I knew this wasn´t over. Thrown off my balance I wouldn´t hold on and realized my fate. I bound out and met her and we began to make our descent. We hugged eachother and prepared for the ride. Scrape scrape Scrape, we turned over and over, Bang! we met a rock and were thrown apart. The pressure was soon realeased and then returned in my short drop. I met water and water only, coming from all directions pushing me further and further down. And then like thunder from afar, I found my peace in the darkness, balance returned and I headed up. One stroke, two strokes, three, four and I emersed. Candice held a rock further down, I came up still in the mist, but rode the current out to meet her and examine the damage. In the end, we had little more injuries than two kids running thier bikes into eachother. Bumps and bruises all over, aching kneecaps, I took the blunt of the punishment. I don´t claim myslef lucky, not stupid, nor a hero, nor a victim. God chose to usher me through this chute at this time. A lesson of the respect of nature. A parable of a my spiritual life, taking an exhillarating beating. A showing of God´s grace and mercy in protecting us. I don´t expect to go jumping off a fatty cliff and expect God to turn me into a bird to fly away. Nor do I expect God to do anything for me while I sit on a couch and stick a fork into a salsberry steak tv dinner. There is a path inbetween here and there, that is both dangerous and good, nearer to life, nearer to who I want to be and who I am intended to be. This is the road I am looking for. This is the road I will take.
