Lessons From The Raft

By Peter Lundell

Recently I went whitewater rafting with my friend Ronnie. Our group of seven shoved into the river for what became a living parable of life.

Though we wore helmets and lifejackets, nothing kept us in the raft but our feet jammed into the toeholds. In life, we can get all the insurance and security we want, but whether we avoid danger or disaster is partly out of our control in the churning world through which we travel.

At one point the raft went vertical on its side and all but one of us fell out. In life, from beginners to experts, we all get thrown for tizzies. And when we do, it’s critical that we look out for each other and help each other get back in the boat.

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Surrounded By The Garden Of God

By Peter Lundell

I whispered, “Speak to me, God.” And a whippoorwill sang. But I was hurrying between appointments. I shouted, “God, speak to me!” And thunder clapped from the sky. But I dashed inside to escape the rain. When the storm cleared I prayed, “God, I want to see you.” And the stars shone from behind the passing clouds. But my cell phone rang, and I didn’t want to miss the call. As the days passed, I asked, “God, show me a miracle.” And a child was born. But I only took photos and said a quick prayer. Finally, I raised my hands and pleaded, “Touch me, God.” And the wind caressed my face. But I turned away and put on a jacket, disappointed that God did not respond.

When we insulate ourselves from nature, we insulate ourselves from God as well, because God connects with us through the natural world. Earth is another word for God’s garden.

Our souls can become anesthetized. This happens when we drift into the artificial respiration of needing to be constantly busy or when we focus on something electronic.

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Spiritual Creatures on a Physical Journey

By Peter Lundell

Most people don’t think much past what they can see—especially if it’s bills to pay or the car ahead of them. But if asked, they might agree that they’re physical creatures who may or may not be on a spiritual journey.
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Stepping Out On Glass

By Peter Lundell 

On a recent trip to Minnesota, my friend took me to visit the world-famous Guthrie Theatre. Along the Mississippi River side of the building is a four-by-six foot cutout in a floor four stories above ground. The cutout is fitted with an inch-thick, heavy-duty glass. (Unlike that in the Sears Tower in Chicago, this one’s free).

I walked to the edge, stopped, and shivered. My brain was programmed to know that I should never stand so close to a precipice. But it wasn’t a precipice; it was a glass floor. Still looking down, I stepped to the middle. My body jittered from foot to head. My brain insisted I was standing in midair or that at least the glass would give way, and I would plummet to my death. I knew it was okay—it had obviously been tested and built according to a code. But it didn’t feel okay. And that was the architect’s whole point.

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Do What’s Live-Giving

By Peter Lundell –

I surf kayak at Newport Beach in Orange County. The blast of water when I face the waves, and the adrenaline-rush of riding waves to shore is worth the scare of danger or wiping out. If I can get beyond where the waves crash—they’re often four to six feet—I can hang out with dolphins, pelicans, seagulls, and occasionally sea otters. Just paddling on the open sea is exhilarating.

The sea to me is like the heart and voice of God. The whole time I sense Him near, hear His voice and tell Him my heart. I’m able to think clearly about my life and often find personal direction out there. Most of all I feel more alive when I surf kayak (or ski in the winter) than any other time.

But what does that have to do with you who are kindly reading?

It has to do with what’s life-giving.

What is life-giving to you? I don’t mean merely relaxing. Something beyond that. Something that when you do it, you feel more alive than at any other time.

It doesn’t have to be a crazy sport. It could be something calm and safe. It could be serving others, praying, or walking in the woods. But something more than watching TV.

Too many people go through life without doing things that are life-giving to them. Some people don’t even know what that would be in their lives.

I hope you take time out to do whatever is life-giving to you. And if you don’t know what that would be, I hope you try things out. God did not create us to merely exist. He created us to live. And the more you fully live, the more joy you’ll have and the more joy you’ll share with others.

Prayer: God my Creator, You have given me this wonderful world to live in. I want to fully experience it and fully live as you designed me. Show me how I can more fully engage with You and experience that which is life-giving to me.

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17 NIV).

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