66
me except for the wind and the water.
Waves slapped against my kayak, the
one I’d designed and built by hand. It
wasn’t as sleek as the more expensive
boats, but I liked it anyway. It was like
me: no frills, gets the job done.
One blade of my paddle sliced into
the water, then the other. Those were
the sounds I heard: waves on wood,
paddle in the water.
A chant started up in
my head to match the
rhythm of my strokes.
Nonsense words at first,
then some much-needed
encouragement: “I will
commit. I will compete.
I will complete.” Which then became:
“I am relentless. I am resilient. I am
resourceful.”
At last, the words evolved into words
that I’d been saying all my life: “Our
Father who art in heaven, hallowed by
thy name....”
I was praying. Out there in the dark,
alone on the wild river, I was praying.
I can’t say it was some profound
spiritual moment for me. I was too tired
for that. And maybe I’m too analytical-
minded anyway. I don’t get a lot of
big epiphanies.
W
hat i did get were the
strength and resolve to keep
on paddling. To believe in
my heart and soul that I could finish
this race. That I wasn’t stupid for at-
tempting to do it.
Heck, that I wasn’t stupid at all.
I pulled up to the landing in South
Sioux City at the 15-hour, 45-minute
mark. I was so depleted, I nearly fell
over when I stepped out of the kayak.
Christy was there, waiting for me, and
wrapped me in her arms.
Relentless. Resilient. Resourceful. I
was all three.
So was God. All my life, he’d been
guiding me along a zigzag, start-and-stop course, giving me strength to go
on, making the best of whatever was
thrown at me.
He’s still doing it. I’ve now complet-
ed the South Dakota Kayak Challenge
three times, whittling down my time to
just over 10 hours.
In kayaking, I find, all of the strands
of my life come together. Racing (and
eating right) helps me keep the diabe-
tes under control.
Helping others get on the water,
where they boost their health and com-
mune with nature, is a healing art just
like pastoring.
Building boats and showing people
how to use them right engage my engi-
neering skills.
All of it is prayer, a way to draw clos-
er to God, just as I experienced during
that first race.
Worthless? I can’t think of anything
that matters more.Get a behind-the-scenes look at how Walt builds his kayaks. guideposts.org/waltvA NEW YOUThe words evolved into words I’d been
saying all my life. There in the dark,
alone on the wild river, I was praying.