This post is about swimming, and I’ll get to that in a moment. But first, I want to share with you a sneak peek at a couple new crochet patterns I’ve been working on this week.
Both of these photos are part of the step-by-step instructions for the new patterns I’m working on. I’m really looking forward to sharing the patterns with you.
Besides working on several new crochet patterns this week, I’ve been swimming for exercise. Recently, I had an epiphany at the pool; it was almost funny.
Lessons at the Swimming Pool
I have been making a huge effort to exercise more, and this particular day I was at the pool. I had just finished doing my exercises and decided to try to swim a lap or two since there was no one else there to see me. (Am I the only one who prefers to exercise alone?)
I strike out to start my lap, and soon I start floundering; I’m flailing at the water and failing miserably. I couldn’t seem to stay above the surface. Panic was setting in.
I’m going to drown. I can’t swim, anymore–I’m going to drown. There is no one around to see me. I’m swimming all alone. It’s against all the swimming rules. My mother will just kill me for swimming alone. What am I doing? I am failing!Â
All these thoughts were running through my mind at lightning speed. Then, suddenly, I heard a voice–
Karen! This is silly, put your feet down. You can stand up! I did it; I was standing. What a relief, I was not going to drown! (Please, don’t tell my mom I was swimming alone.)
I was swimming in what is known as an arthritis pool. At the deep end, it is 4’5″ which allows me to stand flat-footed in all depths. I knew that I could stand up, but I forgot in the struggle of the moment. It took serious, conscious effort to override my adrenalin surge and stick to the truth; the truth that I can stand up and I will not drown. (My mom does not need to know that I’ve broken the cardinal rule of swimming: never swim alone.)
Life Lessons
The swimming pool isn’t the only place where we can feel like we’re drowning. I have been feeling out of my depth in much of life these days as well, but I am sticking to the truth so as not to drown.
The first truth I am remembering is that if you are called to do something, it will not always be easy. Sometimes it will feel overwhelming, but the Lord is always there to help carry our burdens.
The other truth I am remembering is that even when you know how to do something, you can still fail miserably. Keep your courage up and keep trying. Think of all those Olympic athletes that trained so hard and failed so many times. The would not have made it to the Olympics if they had given up. You can’t have success without failure and do-overs.
Talk to you later,
Karen