Post by tadpole86 on Aug 28, 2005 16:38:11 GMT -5
Well folks it's epiphany time,
This past weekend I went kayaking with the college group at my church here at UGA. It was the Broad River which has some small thrills, but nothing serious. I have been reading books on expeditions and watching documentaries on foriegn and exotic places where adventure never ends. I live vicariously through those entertainments. And, this weekend was a chance to perhaps live out those dreams to a certain extent. The Broad River, however, is not a challenging river. So through my eyes, the tiny rapids were made into monsters. I looked for the toughest route through them. I took some backwards, sideways, and I even tried to paddle upstream through a couple. I stayed towards the end of pack with just a couple friends so it felt as if we were exploring this for the first time. (Man, that took some imagination.) Yet, at the pickup I left wanting more danger more adventure. Then I realized, that most of us do not do things in which we are not gaurenteed success. The Broad River poses little threat to me (trust me I tried to make it rough). With a little practice I could probably run the Ocoee River. A weekend camping trip can inspire thoughts of being a pioneer. Yet, all I can pioneer is a backyard. These thoughts saddened me until I realize that there are people today who do not even want to chance a night without a warm bed, cozy fire, or skillfully cooked food. They do not want to risk a weekend out in the cold relying on all the gadgets we have available. They do not want a speck of dirt, stinging insect, or rash-causing bush to come in contact with their soft skin. I think of these and realize, "Even though I am not really hardcore as I want to be, at least I give it a shot."
Happy exploring!
This past weekend I went kayaking with the college group at my church here at UGA. It was the Broad River which has some small thrills, but nothing serious. I have been reading books on expeditions and watching documentaries on foriegn and exotic places where adventure never ends. I live vicariously through those entertainments. And, this weekend was a chance to perhaps live out those dreams to a certain extent. The Broad River, however, is not a challenging river. So through my eyes, the tiny rapids were made into monsters. I looked for the toughest route through them. I took some backwards, sideways, and I even tried to paddle upstream through a couple. I stayed towards the end of pack with just a couple friends so it felt as if we were exploring this for the first time. (Man, that took some imagination.) Yet, at the pickup I left wanting more danger more adventure. Then I realized, that most of us do not do things in which we are not gaurenteed success. The Broad River poses little threat to me (trust me I tried to make it rough). With a little practice I could probably run the Ocoee River. A weekend camping trip can inspire thoughts of being a pioneer. Yet, all I can pioneer is a backyard. These thoughts saddened me until I realize that there are people today who do not even want to chance a night without a warm bed, cozy fire, or skillfully cooked food. They do not want to risk a weekend out in the cold relying on all the gadgets we have available. They do not want a speck of dirt, stinging insect, or rash-causing bush to come in contact with their soft skin. I think of these and realize, "Even though I am not really hardcore as I want to be, at least I give it a shot."
Happy exploring!