Disclaimer: Nebraska is a bit landlocked. All the oceans are, like, really far away. To get some of the experience, we must settle for the fake thing. Itâs kinda like city folks riding a mechanical bull. Not even close to the real thing but still fun. So, please excuse all the improper beachy terms and remember Iâve seen more bull riding than ocean waves. Although⊠I wonder how many similarities there are⊠#idigress #saveitforanothernewsletter
In my quest to capitalize on summers with Little Boy Blue and Sister Sue, I found a wave pool. We love pools. But we really love wave pools... Jackpot! Itâs tucked away in the back of a State Park with little to no information about it online. After a few phone calls and a Covid Grand Reopening, we arrived at Mahoney State Park near Ashland, NE for a day of fun.
We beelined straight for the wave pool, disregarding the separate pool with diving board and steep slide, not even acknowledging the two swirly water slides on the other side, tiptoed around the impressive kiddie pool area, found an empty lounger, threw our stuff down, haphazardly slapped some sunscreen on, and made our way into the waves.
We spent most of our time in that concrete contraption. It was awesome. My feet were rubbed raw and my back scorched and it was so worth it! But it did make me think about parts of my life (parts that didnât require a swimsuit) but parts, nonetheless, that felt similar to wave pool lyfe in a metaphorical sort of way. Hereâs what I discovered:
Wave Pool in Seven PartsâŠ
Shore- see others having fun, hear noises of joy, crowd makes it look easy, their far away heads bobbing up and downâ yeah, I want that, letâs go
â±Crashing Waves On Beach- energizing, ticklish on toes, refreshing
đFirst Wave- laughable, this is so fun, but, wow, this water has some power
đ€Second Wave- okay, this is a little much, where are my shorts?
đ„ŽThird Wave- excuse me, youâre kinda offending me; am I being slapped? why are my children smiling? this hurts
đ±Fourth Wave- whoa, this is deeper than I thought; itâs in my nose; and my eyes; alsoâ whatâs with the counter pull? is it sucking me under? will I be drowning today? I thought I was a strong swimmer but maybe not? could I actually save myself, let alone my kids? the lifeguards are so far away; and they look like theyâre twelve; gracious; what have I done bringing us to this death trap?
đđŒFifth Wave- feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, get on up, itâs wave pool time; oh this is niiiiiice â I think I am actually enjoying myself; okay, this is fun
Survival Tactics, both seen & experienced:
Face it head on - most painful but you earn a super tough pool rep; must have goggles
The dive down - takes some impressive timing, not for the diving down part but for the coming up for air part; time that wrong and youâre swallowing a whole bunch of chlorinated pee water without enough time to get another breath before the next wave; itâs risky but it is a much smoother ride below the surface
Totally tubular - this takes investment, three whole dollars, and you wouldnât have to learn any lessons; not only do you just sit on top of the waves like a princess, feeling zero ill effects from the intense power of the water, you also get to pummel people in your general vicinity because you have very little control of your tube; not a bad strategy but definitely a cop out
Edge grabber - this looks the safest because you always have something to hang on to but then you realize that the waves are actually the biggest and strongest at the edge and knock you off your hand hold every time; no bueno
Backwards Betty - feels safest and least painful but it does push your hair right into your face and mouth; also letâs you keep eyes on your children who think they are Ariel and Flounder; best mom strategy for sure
Lessons Learned:
Pick a goal and your non-swimsuited life will instantly feel like youâve entered a wave pool. Itâs gonna look and feel really fun for a few and then be ridiculously painful for aaaaaaaaawhile and then youâll find the rhythm and be okay.
Satan uses similar tactics. Letâs say the wave pool is the Christian lifeâ Satan convinces you on the front end that everyone else is so perfect and unattainable in their awesomeness. But you step forward anyway only to get slapped with the very thing you signed up for. He laughs. âNot worth it,â he whispers, âGo back to shoreâŠâ But you step forward anyway, closer to The Source. The pull is strong; it stings as you fall and get back up again but you keep your eyes ahead. âItâs too hard. Itâs not ever going to get better. Itâs dangerous. Youâre being selfish,â Satan continues to beat your brain to a pulp. That draw, though⊠one step closer, eyes up, try again, feel the rhythm, yes, finally synchronized with The Source.
Kids are so stinking amazing. They bounce back so fastâ âIâm okay, mom!â Their resiliency always blows me away.
Okay, there it is. Thanks for coming to my Wave Pool Ted Talk.
This weekâs recommendations:
Podcast Parables | Episode 2 - Joseph Barsabbasâs (Justus) Wife - Ever feel overlooked or unchosen despite faithful obedience? This one is for you⊠| Original Art (for purchase) by McKenzi Gordon of Restless Pursuit Creations
Covid Coping Resources | extensive list of links for your perusal because, oh yeah, the coronavirus is still here and Iâm not sure weâre all okay⊠[huge thanks to @Margaret Lyman for sharing this list in her newsletter; she was one of my leaders on my 2001 Teen Missions Brazil Floating Church Missions Trip]
Back To School Product | Our school PTO is ordering one of these straps for each student for their mask so when they are able to take it off (lunch & recess) it can still stay on their person and no one else has to touch it. Itâs such a weird and ridiculous thing but Iâm all for helping find ways to make it best as it can be, especially in the classroom. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0857KCZP1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Yp4cFbN27NGYW
Book | âWe Don't Eat Our Classmatesâ | Speaking of back to school, this book will help you giggle about it. It will not, however, help with social distancing. Â https://www.amazon.com/dp/1368003559/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Xz7cFbT7B76MX
Scripture | Psalm 45:1a - Beautiful words stir my heart. (NLT) | #same
Friends, I hope you have a wonderful week. Get past those first few waves, okay? Keep your eyes ahead, fixed on The Source, syncing your rhythm with Him. And donât forget sunscreen on your back.
âCourt