a little chop.

I got to thinking today about a day when I was a teenager.

My dad had taken me out charter fishing on Lake Michigan.  We were a long way from shore and were going to be out all day.

I don't remember much about the actual fishing, I don't remember the conversation.  I don't even remember what we had to eat.  I remember the waves.

At first, the water was calm.  It was before dawn when we boarded and left the dock. It was chilly even for the month of June.  The water was like glass.  I remember looking behind the boat and watching as our movement through the lake created a wave on each side of the boat. 

Huddled in a sweatshirt and blanket, I remember noticing the pitch and roll of the boat as we got further from shore.  The boat was in this slow, rhythmic pitch and roll.  Long even waves lifted us and then set us down.

As we got further out, the waves grew.  Some were large; others were smaller. Each time the boat would fight to the top of the crest, it would sort of surf, coasting down the backside.  Sometimes another wave would be right at the bow, other times there would be a bit of a rest to it.

Thinking back on it today I compared it to my life... Whether we think of our life by the moment, by the year, by the decade, we can find ourselves somewhere along this cycle.  Sometimes we are fighting, burning a lot of fuel to work ourselves out of a hole. Other times we are surfing along on the top of the crest.  Still other times we find ourselves crashing down from the top, our bow ramming into the rising crest just beyond the bottom. 

I guess this is what we talk about when we mention life's ups and downs.. Some waves are bigger than others.

I would love to always be at the top of the crest. Feeling the power of the wave beneath me as I rush towards the shore, feeling strong, feeling in charge of life.

But too often I find myself in the valley of them.  Barely recovered from the long plunge to the bottom; and certainly not feeling ready to try to climb back up the next wall that is approaching. 

It seems that we are never simply able to just enjoy flat-water.  To watch the ripples of our existence behind us.  Life isn't put together that way.  Instead we are subject to those things around us that make waves. 

The only answer I think; is to learn to enjoy the waves... To find some way to crash to the bottom with dignity and pride.  Like the jet-skier launching from the top of the wave and nosing his craft deep into the next. 

Embracing change, embracing challenge and adversity will be the only way to feel the true satisfaction of your short time above each crest.  You may know that the next wave is coming, just wanting to pummel you, but at least you will be able to truly enjoy the sensation of being on top while you are there. 

We are not always in high seas... sometimes life seems to only be able to hand us a little chop.  These are the times that are to be cherished the most.  These are the times when we are able to feel confident enough to lend a hand, or even to throw a rope to a friend who has been truly battling.  A little chop is all we need to remind us how lucky we are and to remind us to keep a watchful eye for those who are truly being tossed about. A little chop is the times when we are able to mend and to maintain our vessel in preparation for the next storm.

A little chop is the best place to be.