Go Beyond

On the last leg of the Texas Water Safari.

Thanks for indulging me as I write this third post on the Texas Water Safari, the world’s toughest canoe race. My son Jonathan and his teammate Steve started the race on Saturday morning at 9:00 AM and have stopped only briefly at the required checkpoints along the route. As of this writing they are on the Guadalupe River south of Victoria on the last leg of the race. They have one more required checkpoint at the Salt Water Barrier near Port Lavaca and then will head across an expanse of open water to the finish line at the coastal community of Seadrift. They are on schedule to finish the 260-mile race in less than the allotted one-hundred hour time limit. I am anxious to see Jonathan and to hear more about his grueling adventure. I am especially anxious to talk with him and my daughter Niki (logistics and checkpoint coordinator for Jonathan’s team) to ask them about how this experience challenged and stretched them.

Helen Keller said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” I agree. I also believe that living adventurously is about more than about taking risks or seeking thrills. It goes much deeper than that. Living adventurously is about doing the things you are passionate about — and doing those things with all your heart. When you think about it, there is little that people do with all of their heart in our comfortable and predictable drive-through-convenience kind of lifestyles. True adventure engages the heart as much or more than any set of skills or muscles required to complete a task. And, adventure is not really adventure without the risk of failure. Whether its paddling down a river, climbing a mountain, or going back to school later in life, it’s the risk of failure or dealing with doubts about whether you can overcome obstacles that adds to adventure.

True adventure also requires a commitment to act and to take the steps to live the life of your dreams. William Lindsey, the man who ran the entire distance of the Great Wall, said, “My experience is that unless you make a commitment opportunities pass by. Life seemed full of people who talked about achievement yet never did anything more adventurous than watch television.” Lindsey is correct in his observation. No one ever becomes famous by announcing what they are going to do. You have to actually follow through and take the first step toward your destination or the first class toward your degree or the first paddle stroke down the river. Only those with the requisite courage to go beyond will reach the place where they are facing the last leg toward their respective finish line. Determine to live adventurously.

The Texas Water Safari is billed as the world’s toughest canoe race. Contestants must navigate their vessels 260 miles down Texas rivers in 100 hours. This tough, nonstop race starts at San Marcos and ends in the Gulf of Mexico at the little town of Seadrift, Texas. To make the course even more challenging, contestants must reach certain points along the race route at certain times lest they be disqualified. This year, my son Jonathan will be among the 100+ contestants. And, I must say that I am really excited for and proud of Jonathan. He knows that the finish line is a little more than an estimated quarter-million paddle strokes from the starting line but is determined to get there one stroke at a time.

Jonathan and I have enjoyed some fun father-son kayaking adventures over the past few years. About a year ago he told me that he wanted to compete in the Texas Water Safari. I thought it was a great idea. Thus began the adventure of preparing for the race. A few months ago, Jonathan purchased and refurbished a used Alumnacraft canoe. He researched and interviewed others who had competed in the water safari to learn how to make his canoe race-ready. He also purchased a set of pricey canoe paddles that weigh only 10 or 12 ounces. But, when you have to paddle a quarter-million strokes, every ounce counts. Over the past months, Jonathan and his race partner, Steve Jones, have done several grueling training runs down various segments of the race route. They have a pretty good idea of what they are in for between the start of the race today and the end of the race on Wednesday.

Steve and Jonathan | 1984 is Jonathan's birth year.

It’s been a lot of fun watching Jonathan get ready for the race. I have watched him refurbish and outfit his canoe, listened to reports after his training runs, looked at his detailed maps, and reviewed the estimated times between check points. He did a great job of budgeting his funds and shopping around for the best deals on the gear he needed. A few days ago I purchased a Spot Tracker GPS device for him that will allow us to track his progress in real time on Google maps. For the next few days I will follow his progress with great interest. I know that the route is as challenging as it is long and that when I go to bed at night he and Steve will still be paddling their way to the finish line. My daughter Niki will meet Jonathan and Steve at designated points along the way to provide fresh water and the nutritional drinks that will be their only meals along the way.

More than once over the past few months I have thought about Paul’s words to the church at Corinth (1 Cor. 9:24-27) — “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” Reflecting on Paul’s words has reminded me that just as I am intensely interested in Jonathan’s progress in the Texas Water Safari, my Heavenly Father is even more interested in my progress on life’s course. And just as I will follow my son’s progress on Google maps, God follows my progress with great interest and concern. I am proud of Jonathan for everything he has done to compete in the Texas Water Safari. And, I am thankful that this experience has also motivated me to be more intentional about how I live my life, knowing that my Heavenly Father is watching my progress.

I love you Jonathan and Niki. Be safe along the way. And thank you Steve, for sharing this adventure with Jonathan. Godspeed.