Keep Paddling
Life is like a river. It is constantly flowing down stream. Sometimes the river is rough and full of rocks and rapids, sometimes its smooth sailing. But, somewhere down the river there is a waterfall. You have no clue where the falls are. They are different for everyone but it marks the end of your ride. At the head of the river there is a spring. The spring pours out the waters of life abundantly for everyone to experience. Like the falls, you have no clue where the springs are. You just know they are up there somewhere, creating and giving life.
If you sit and do nothing life will sweep you away. You’re just along for the ride, dealing with whatever challenges might arise as you float down the river. That is how most people live. Never really thinking ahead or planning, never really asking where is this river going?
But the falls are coming. First you will start to feel the waters change, moving a little faster. That’s no big deal it’s probably just another rough spot. But, then you’ll hear the falls in the distance. You’ll try to ignore them at first but soon you must face the fact that you’re about to go over the edge. You must drop everything and start paddling like crazy, doing everything within your power to paddle back upstream to safety! Some of you will make it and live to paddle another day. Some will go over the falls.
Then there are those who choose to paddle upstream towards the spring. Paddling is hard work and the work is endless. If you stop for even just a moment your progress will slow and you will start floating back down stream. But your purpose is great. You know that the spring of life is at the head of the waters. You know that with every pull of the oar you inch closer to those abundant waters. There will still be rapids that you must paddle through. When the rapids come some people will quit paddling saying its no use, its too hard. They go back to floating. But some will dig deep within themselves knowing that if they just keep paddling, the rapids will end and they will be stronger for it, bringing them ever closer to that abundant spring.
All good things that God has created for us in this life require that we paddle, not just for a day or two but for our entire lives. If you want a great marriage, you must work at it. For how long? For as long as you want a great marriage! Want to be financially free? You have to put the work in. For a month or two? Nope! For a lifetime. If you want to be HEALTHY, it requires that you put in the effort. For how long? You guessed it – your ENTIRE life. When does life start? When you have free time and motivation? When you have extra money to spend on your health? Nope. The river of life starts flowing down stream towards the falls from day one.
Especially when it comes to health most people float. They are just along for the ride, doing very little to help themselves. Some days you feel great (smooth sailing), some days you’re sick or in pain (rapids). But, one day you’ll start getting near the falls. You’ll hear them (sign & symptoms: high blood pressure, digestive problems, sleep apnea, etc). You’ll cover your ears pretending they aren’t real (covering symptoms with drugs). They are real and when you see them coming you’ll have to drop everything and fight like hell (even stronger drugs and inevitably surgeries). They cannot be ignored. Your kid’s soccer practice no longer matters. The car you drive, the house you live in, how much money you make, none of it matters any longer. You must drop everything and fight.
But the few who choose to paddle have a very different experience. Paddling is the act of choosing the hard things in life on purpose BEFORE they become urgent, BEFORE it becomes a crisis. You take great care of your spine and nervous system knowing that LIFE FLOWS THROUGH YOUR SPINE. You eat LIFE-GIVING FOODS and avoid life-taking foods. You MOVE YOUR BODY, EXERCISE, and BREATHE. You minimize the toxic manmade chemicals of this world and protect the NATURAL CHEMISTRY OF YOUR BODY. You cut out the negative people, thoughts, and media outlets in your life MINIMIZING YOUR STRESS and REALIZING that there really is an ABUNDANT SPRING sitting there waiting for you if only you’ll paddle. Yes, floating is easier but paddling moves you upstream. There will still be rapids. Pain and sickness are real. But those who paddle through those seasons come out on the other side healthier, stronger, and better for it.
Paddling is hard. Paddling alone is even harder. If you are in a boat of people who just want to float, you gotta get out of that boat! They will only hold you back from reaching the springs of life. Similarly, you cannot paddle for your entire family alone. You must teach your kids how to paddle for themselves, express the importance of paddling together with your spouse. If a family paddles together, everyone reaches the springs much faster and the rapids become that much easier.
Now, just like in real life, you must learn how to paddle well. Anyone can splash about with an oar and still move in the right direction, but people have been paddling upstream since the beginning of time. In that time have discovered the best ways to paddle. That’s what we do here at NGFC. We are here to teach you the best techniques of paddling and whenever you are ready you are welcome to hop in our boat. We’re pretty good at paddling!
On February 5th from 9-11:30 AM we are taking a deep dive into the WHY, WHAT, and HOW of healthy living. It is our Reclaim Your Health seminar! From that seminar we will also be launching into our 30 Day Reclaim Your Health challenge where you will be encouraged and supported as we all paddle together! See the front desk to reserve your spot ASAP as we are keeping this event small that we might engage and encourage you better. Hope to see you there and always remember, just keep paddling!
In Health and Faith,
Dr. Marc
