Wispy clouds floated overhead doing very little to block the warm summer sun. The light breeze caused the trees to sway as my tube floated slowly and haphazardly down the cool waters of West Virginia鈥檚 Cheat River. More than once I found myself humming the familiar melody of John鈥檚 Denver iconic 鈥淐ountry Roads鈥 because the experience really was 鈥渁lmost heaven.鈥

This memory is from a float trip taken with my family during a gathering this summer. As I resume my 鈥淩eflections Along the Journey鈥 weekly column following a summer hiatus, this casual float trip down the Cheat River seemed the perfect metaphor to reflect, share and interpret the journey. Somehow on that refreshing summer afternoon, life once again was put into proper perspective.

Sometimes, in the busyness of recent days, I return in my mind鈥檚 eye to the beauty of the river and listen for the tranquil sound of the splashing water against the smooth river rocks. These are the advantages of West Virginia living!

I have two frames on a wall in my office that remind me about the importance of the journey. One reads, 鈥淭he Joy is in the Journey鈥 and the other reminds me that 鈥淟ife is a Journey Not a Race.鈥 These pearls of wisdom caused me to ponder the lessons of a lazy summer float trip down the river. A few life lessons that I learned include:

  • Far too often we have little control over where the current takes us. We can fight it, or we can enjoy the journey.
  • It is quite simple to live so distracted that we miss the beauty and tranquility that surrounds us. Closing our mouths, opening our eyes and quieting our souls reveals an amazing world.
  • There are always rocks and bumps along the journey. They are overcome by simply going with the flow.
  • Due to a lack of rain there were occasional spots where the river was unusually shallow, and a member of our group got out and pulled our tubes as we held on to one another. During life鈥檚 journey there are times we need to accept the help of others, and we certainly always need to hold on to one another.
  • The tube held me up and kept my head above the water. For those of us who cling to faith, it is reassuring to rest in God鈥檚 hands and trust that God鈥檚 Spirit will sustain us.
  • Floating down the river with the members of my family was the best part of that memorable day. The company we keep along the journey is the best part of all.

With my river adventure now just a spectacular memory, the ebb and flow of life finds the students, faculty and staff back on campus and a new academic year underway at 麻豆传媒映画. It means the lazy days of summer are behind us, but the lessons from the river are as relevant today as they were then. May those lessons guide your life and mine in this moment and around the next bend, as the journey continues.

Chris A. Wood
President
麻豆传媒映画