“You’re taking all that?”
We were about to enter the “park”, things were scattered about the ground as students tried to determine what to bring and what to leave at base camp. I saw several makeup bags looking like small tool kits, a butane curling iron and various assortments of items unsuited to a week in the “wilderness” complete with black flies, hordes of mosquitoes, the occasional deer fly or horse fly, moose, bears, beavers, loons, martins, armies of ravenous; raccoons, mice, chipmunks and squirrels, lots of water from; rain, lakes, rivers and of course sweat. Many of the guys were no better. Several extra pairs of “jeans”, police issue “mag” lights weighing several pounds and my favorite an extra backpack chalked full of books for those leisurely moments on the trail between paddles, balancing their 60lb backpacks as they tried to catch their breath waiting for those with the canoe on their shoulders to catch up. Certainly these would come in handy, if only to start a fire in one of the typical rain storms; providing they were still dry, as we rolled into our camp site late in the evening refreshed from our day of ease and play. (yeah right)
This promised to be an interesting week. Wind, waves, paddling and walking all of which to most would feel more like a marathon than a “canoe” trip, many, having never experienced anything like this before …at least not by choice. I wondered as we paddled across the first lake, and the waves were pushing us around a bit, ....some more than others, or should say contemplated; how unprepared they were for what lay ahead. No amount of conversation or “teaching” could do it. They had no idea of the why; “why shouldn’t I take three pair of jeans?”, and “what’s wrong with carrying my makeup bag?” they had not experienced the “what” “this an epic journey for most and so could not, would not, ask the “how” “how do I succeed even excel at this?”. This would come later as they felt the pain of the pack they had loaded, and bite of the yoke they needed to complete the journey that lay ahead. It reminded me again; as unforgiving as this trip would be for those who chose not to trust, listen and learn, life is so much the same and while recovery from this week would be a no brainer, life would not be as forgiving.
We need to equip students, that is evident, but with what and how? So many of them having no framework to even know they need what is offered for their journey. It will definitely be a challenge for those looking for easy, traditional, typical mainstream answers. For a few however interested in transformation as opposed to reform, willing to challenge themselves, there are answers! Walk with me a bit, by the way what are you carrying?
We were about to enter the “park”, things were scattered about the ground as students tried to determine what to bring and what to leave at base camp. I saw several makeup bags looking like small tool kits, a butane curling iron and various assortments of items unsuited to a week in the “wilderness” complete with black flies, hordes of mosquitoes, the occasional deer fly or horse fly, moose, bears, beavers, loons, martins, armies of ravenous; raccoons, mice, chipmunks and squirrels, lots of water from; rain, lakes, rivers and of course sweat. Many of the guys were no better. Several extra pairs of “jeans”, police issue “mag” lights weighing several pounds and my favorite an extra backpack chalked full of books for those leisurely moments on the trail between paddles, balancing their 60lb backpacks as they tried to catch their breath waiting for those with the canoe on their shoulders to catch up. Certainly these would come in handy, if only to start a fire in one of the typical rain storms; providing they were still dry, as we rolled into our camp site late in the evening refreshed from our day of ease and play. (yeah right)
This promised to be an interesting week. Wind, waves, paddling and walking all of which to most would feel more like a marathon than a “canoe” trip, many, having never experienced anything like this before …at least not by choice. I wondered as we paddled across the first lake, and the waves were pushing us around a bit, ....some more than others, or should say contemplated; how unprepared they were for what lay ahead. No amount of conversation or “teaching” could do it. They had no idea of the why; “why shouldn’t I take three pair of jeans?”, and “what’s wrong with carrying my makeup bag?” they had not experienced the “what” “this an epic journey for most and so could not, would not, ask the “how” “how do I succeed even excel at this?”. This would come later as they felt the pain of the pack they had loaded, and bite of the yoke they needed to complete the journey that lay ahead. It reminded me again; as unforgiving as this trip would be for those who chose not to trust, listen and learn, life is so much the same and while recovery from this week would be a no brainer, life would not be as forgiving.
We need to equip students, that is evident, but with what and how? So many of them having no framework to even know they need what is offered for their journey. It will definitely be a challenge for those looking for easy, traditional, typical mainstream answers. For a few however interested in transformation as opposed to reform, willing to challenge themselves, there are answers! Walk with me a bit, by the way what are you carrying?
