Thank God there were no alligators!

​A few weeks ago 4 family members and I rented a canoe and 2 kayaks to paddle down the rain-swollen Little Manatee River.  It was the first day the launch was open since the big storm raised the river to flood stage.  We are confident paddlers and were sure we could negotiate the river without incident.  We paddled from the launch to the half-way point of the 6-mile trip at the State Park pull-out where we stopped for a snack and nature break.  The next part of the trip featured faster water and more downed trees to avoid.  And disaster struck.  The canoe got hung up between the river bank and a downed tree blocking passage from the other side.  I decided I would hang out next to the branches of the tree perpendicular to the flow of the river.  Note to Self:  Never try to hang out across the flow of a swift river.  My kayak flipped.  I came up under the cockpit of the overturned kayak and had to dive under to get my head free.  It took longer for the kayak to get through the tree limbs than for me, so I was able to grab onto the bow as it came free.  Needless to say, my family was panicked; and I had a wild ride through the tree branches and roots clinging to the kayak with one hand and pushing debris out of the way with the other all while trying to find footing on anything.  A couple of times I was able to right the kayak, but it sank as soon as I added my weight to the weight of the water.  Eventually, we came upon a part of the river with a gently sloping bank where we all stopped, drained the water from my kayak and took an emotional rest.  In the melee I lost the Bad Boy Mower Gasparilla Bowl hat, and daughter, Teresa,   retrieved not only my life jacket and paddle, she found a second paddle in the river.
 
I am telling you my faux pas partly because other than freaking out the family and terrifying myself, it was an adrenaline-raising event. I know I was prepared to survive the accident.  1.  I wore sandals with straps not flip flops protecting my feet.  2.  My glasses fit securely.  3. My cell phone was locked in my car.  4.  My car key was tucked in a dry bag tied to the kayak. 5. Most importantly, I spent an hour in the pool nearly every day for the previous 5 months moving, swimming, exercising and becoming very comfortable in the water.
 
We never know when trouble will arise or what it will be.   Jesus tells us, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)  We prepare for the large and small troubles by spending time in with Jesus reading the scriptures, meditating, and in prayer. 
 
BTW, thank God there were no alligators!