Floating Down the River of Life

This past weekend my family got in the Green River with some rented inner tubes in the mountains of North Carolina, where we floated for four miles downstream. It struck me that the experience was a metaphor for life, both in family and business. After all, our workplace is our family with a little "f".

 With faith that our tubes would hold air and us up, we got in the water together and clung to each other initially. Then when we got tired of the togetherness we let go of each other. The ride started calmly enough, and had numerous rough spots with rocks, branches and rapids. We sought each other out before, during and after the rough spots. During the ride we all sustained scratches and bruises.

 Every tribe, tongue and nation were floating around us with their diverse body shapes, tattoos, cigarettes and alcohol. Some were friendly and generous, and some were not. We all faced the same threats and handled them as best we could.

 We could get out of the river at different spots, but for the most part the river was our context, controlling our lives, and we had to react to what it brought to us. When we finally did climb out, we were grateful for an incredible family experience.

 The real rough spot showed up later on arrival at home where we discovered one of my daughter's dogs had escaped the mountain house we had rented. Tragically the dog had run searching for us only to be hit by a car on a highway and later die. That rough spot has drawn us tightly together to support her and all of us as we grieve the loss of a beloved pet.

 Every event and encounter is just preparation for more of life's ups and downs, at home and at work. In fact all of our life is our personal preparation for the river of life, both here....and in Eternity.

Now that's purposeful living.

Jim Anthony