Kayaking, Climbing and Christ!

This past Saturday, my new friend Rogelio took me kayaking in the Pacific Ocean to a couple of islands off the coast of  Mazatlan.  After we reached Goat and  Deer Islands, we hiked to the top of the highest points on Deer Island and enjoyed the spectacular view and beauty that surrounded us. I saw plant and animal species I had never seen before and enjoyed a peanut brittle type snack that was light and tasty. The thing I enjoyed most of all was the company and conversation of Rogelio. My guide and host went out of his way to make our little expedition a great time while engaging me in dialogue about life, career choices, dreams, God, world religions, family life and Jesus Christ.

The trip itself was a lot of fun as we had to get out to sea through some rather large waves without capsizing and deal with swells and the wake from a fast moving fishing boat. Being in the ocean in nothing but a kayak is a sobering reminder of the power of the great Pacific. To me, this was an adventure, but to Rogelio this was a just another day in life. Rogelio is a tri-athlete! This guy is an amazing athlete who can out-swim, out-run and out-pedal me in his sleep! As I spent time with him, I found myself feeling rather humbled. I guess I'm not the athlete I once was.

After arriving at our destination, Rogelio asked me if I would like to go on a hike up into the rocks. I said yes, though I was a little nervous due to the fact that we were wearing flip flops which are not exactly the best climbing attire available. Well, our little jaunt was quite an adventure, and I can proudly say that I got a number of little cuts and scratches on my legs and feet! Oh, the glory of battle wounds! We reached the top of "Lion King Rock" and spent the next 30-45 minutes enjoying the beauty of the creation which the Scriptures tell us speak of God the great Creator, Architect, Artist, Engineer and Designer of all things seen and unseen.

John 1:1-3 & 14 - In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make. So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. NLT

Hebrews 1:3 - The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. NIV

I spent several minutes telling Rogelio about my own life and the story of God's loving intervention in this rebel named Doug. As I recounted the amazing grace of Jesus Christ to me, I was once again moved to such gratefulness toward my Father in heaven. I once was blind, lost and dead and now I see, am found and live a new life in Jesus Christ! As we talked, I was reminded that nobody can ever take away from me the power and wonder of my own testimony of God's revelation and saving grace to me. Though all the major world religions have much we can learn and contain truths about God and His nature, only Jesus Christ can deliver a person from sin's power and show us the only pure vision of what God is like. He is the Word made flesh! He is the exact representation of the Divine nature and the explanation of God! He is loving, good, kind, just, gracious and worthy of all our worship and adoration.

Rogelio and I rowed back to the mainland and were on the final stretch as we tried to time things so we could ride the last wave in. The key is to not get cross-ways with the wave, but to stay perpendicular with it. We were only a few feet from shore when I turned us a little too much to the right just as the wave flipped us over and dumped both of us into the water! Rogelio had told me up front we would get wet, but I was starting to think we would pull off this whole expedition with only the splashes we enjoyed while rowing through rough waters. Once again, how you finish is so very important. We finished wet and satisfied with a fun day kayaking, climbing and conversing. Thank you Rogelio and thank you Father God!