Strange title, isn’t it? And
yet, you are reading this; aren’t you…perhaps intrigued by the title…let me
explain…
I grew up on the frozen pond across
from my childhood home. And it set a course that would become a love and a
passion for hockey that I enjoy no matter whether I am playing or watching;
inside or out. I still get shivers as I walk into an indoor arena and catch a
whiff of the ice, but there still is nothing like the feel of skating on a pond
or outdoor rink.
In the summer months when the
ice was melted (is your glass half empty or half full?) I would spend time on
the pond in a canoe. My dad thought that it would be a good way for us children
to learn to work together while learning water safety.
To further our skills, my brother
Joe and I took a canoe safety class at the local YMCA in which we learned how
to roll a canoe upright if we ever tipped it over and fell out. We also learned how to sink a canoe to the
bottom of the pool thus producing a frustrated instructor; but that story is
for another time…
During all of these trips on
the pond, my brother Joe and I learned how to paddle together. Whether the
waters were rough or smooth, we knew how to navigate in almost perfect harmony
and synchronization. Stroke for stroke we would have made the greatest Olympian
rowing team look like mere amateurs.
Following our classes and multiple
trips around the pond, several brothers and I my dad went to a trip to BWCA in
Northern Minnesota where, together, Joe and faced the roughest waters on Burntside
Lake with ease and great rapport. Together we could take on the best canoeists
in the world. Or at least we thought we could.
My wife Cathy, on the other hand,
had learned her canoeing experience while paddling with her father. They too
had taking many trips together, including trip to the very same Burntside Lake
on their way into the BWCA. They too had logged many miles together.
So when Cathy and I decided
to take a canoe excursion together on the lake at the cabin, it only made sense
that we too would be harmonious in our joint adventure. Instead, we were
perplexed to discover that we really didn’t do well paddling together in the
same canoe.
We discovered that her idea
of paddling was different than my definition of paddling. My definition meant
that BOTH persons in the canoe paddled stroke for stroke.
Her definition meant that when
the waters got too rough or she was tired or simply wanted to look at the
wildlife on the lake, she could STOP paddling and her dad would do ALL of the paddling;
including the steering.
Needless to say, we really
stunk at canoeing together and really didn’t enjoy canoeing together. Simply
put; she was not my brother Joe and I wasn’t her dad.
In fact we had some trips when
we weren’t sure that we should even stay together.
OK, maybe that was a bit over
dramatized. Or was it?
Eventually, harmony was
restored when a family member purchased a couple of kayaks for the family
cabin. From the first trip that we took around the lake (each in our own kayak),
we experienced the joy that each of us had had while paddling with our old
canoeing partners.
Together we had come to a
solution, a compromise in which we both could go at our own pace and yet Cathy
and I could still go around the lake at the same time; usually side by side. If
one got ahead, it was no big deal to simply wait until the other caught up.
Together we have had many memories
from trips around the lake, sometimes two times a day as we spent time at the
cabin. Together we have had many trips that resulted in us becoming closer even
though we were in different water vehicles.
Ok, Tommy O, I get the “canoe” and the “kayak”, but
what is the “smelly feet”?
Well, as I thought of the obstacles
that we faced while trying canoe together, I thought of how many times we let
our differences keep us from going the same direction or left us feeling as
though we weren’t a part of the same event.
Even though we were husband
and wife and friends who were joined together, we felt as though we weren’t
connected. But we were in spite of what our emotions were telling us. And we
had to find a way to get along and appreciate what each brought to the
relationship; we were called to be together…“What God had joined together…
And the same applies to you
the reader; I’m sure that you understand what I mean. Even though you and I don’t
get along with every person we come across in our life, that doesn’t negate the
fact that they have a place in our lives.
No, I don’t believe that everyone is going to LIKE
everyone else, but still we need to appreciate what the other brings to the
table, or should I say body.
This is true for our neighborhood,
places of work, family, churches, and yes, even with our spouse. Each person
has a unique place or role to play; kind of like the different parts of the human
body.
Have you ever wondered why
the nose is located so far away from the smelly feet (as well as the other
parts of the body that smell)? Perhaps it is because even though we are a part
of the same body, we don’t have to like every other part…nor are we always
going to get along.
But, take away the feet or
the nose (as well as part in between that smell) and you will discover that you
have one messed up body; especially if you take away the orifices that are in
between! As difficult as it was for Cathy and I to not paddle at stroke for
stroke, to not have a nose, or yes, even the smelly feet, would be even more
difficult.
My point? Just as Cathy and I
had to learn how to walk in harmony, each of us must learn how to walk in harmony;
especially with others who are different from us. In fact true unity takes
places not just when we agree, but when we don’t; then what will we do…?
In
this day and age when there is so much hatred and killing I am imploring each of
us to appreciate each other and to look for ways to walk (or paddle) together.
1
Corinthians 12:15-26 says: “If the foot
should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore
not of the body? And if the ear should say,
“Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the
body? If the whole body were an eye, where would
be the hearing? If the whole were
hearing, where would be the
smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body
just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot
say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I
have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which
seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on
these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed
the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the
body, but that the members
should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all
the members suffer with it; or
if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”
All Scripture taken from the
New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
All rights reserved.
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