In All Things Give Thanks

We are in the middle of a busy week. This is the week that we devote to using canoes to serve the local First Nations Communities. Yesterday we did a four hour trip on the Shuswap River. Along the way, we stopped to swing on a rope swing that hung over the water. I was the first to try it. I climbed up the base of the tree to a log placed there as a jumping platform. I grabbed the highest knot on the rope and swung off the log. It was a long rope. That means that you gain a lot of speed, and at the other end of the swing, you are about eight feet above the water. At the end of the swing, I let go of the rope and splashed into the deep water. I remember being surprised at how deep I had gone, as it was taking longer to reach the surface than I had imagined.

Loyd was next. He had never done such a rope swing before, and stepped up to it with caution. He seemed to be reluctant to step off the log, but he did, and the big smile on his face as he flew through the air showed that he enjoyed the first part of the trip. He let go and splashed in. He came up all excited and happy with the experience. He ran right over to the tree to do it again.

His sister tried it next. She looked at the whole set up with obvious concern. You could see that she was not used to taking risks. Still, she mustered up the courage to climb the dirt bank and up to the standing log. She held the rope a long time as if she couldn't make her body ease forward off the log. With some encouragement, she finally took the leap of faith and swung out over the water.
You are supposed to release over the water at the apex of the swing. That places you over deep water. I think she knew that, but perhaps her hands didn't believe it. Instead of releasing over the deep water, she hung on to the rope another second as she began to return to the shore. Then, over three feet of water, she released.
Her face contorted in pain as she grabbed her knee. We had a problem!

We managed to get our pickup car to return up river and find us, as we carried Patricia out of the water and to the car. She went to the hospital in Salmon Arm, where she learned that she had a simple fracture of her tibia!

That experience certainly put a damper on the rest of the trip for the rest of us. The Scripture tells us to give thanks in everything. I am thankful that her injury wasn't worse, but I am puzzled at how God is going to turn this into good. We were just getting to know Patricia, and now she is injured. We prayed with her, but so far, God has not seen fit to do a miraculous healing of her leg. So, I guess we walk by faith, and keep visiting her at home, and look for God to turn this into a blessing.

Loyd had a good time. He is coming back out with us for a lake paddle today.