Driving through Wisconsin a few weeks ago on our way to Minneapolis, Minnesota, my attention was drawn to school buses and vans unloading rambunctious teenagers. Next, I saw canoes, rafts and tire tubes being carted quickly down to the river. These young people were wired and more than anxious to hit the water! Evidently those with the canoes had done it often because they had the procedure down pat. Next thing I knew, they were in their life jackets, in the canoes and paddling downstream.

I had a flashback to June 1967, in Babbit, Minnesota, when Larry and I had been married only about two years. Our friends, Duane and Elsie Arvola, invited us, along with Larry's brother, Lowell, and his wife, Connie, to go on a camping and canoe trip. We had never even set foot in a canoe, let alone take a canoe trip into the Canadian boundary waters. Yes, I was more than a bit nervous! I was terrified as I thought of large rocks and boulders menacingly protruding from the rushing water just waiting to "attack" our canoe dumping us into the icy deep turbulent waters. I knew I could hold my own walking, but swimming to save my life if the canoe overturned…that was another story.

Evidently Larry sensed my fears of the unknown and decided it would be wise to take a trial canoe run. The afternoon before we were to go on our little excursion, we did our practice run. Now, you have to understand that Larry knew as much as I did about canoeing which equals…nothing, but he certainly wouldn't let that be known. After all, he's a man---a strong, capable, fearless, confident, in-control male (so he thought)! Taking control of the situation, he began to self-assuredly instruct me in the how's and when's, what's and what not to do's of canoeing.

As directed, I put on my life jacket, delicately stepped into the canoe as he issued a string of commands, "Don't rock it…don't try to get up and walk…don't move…just sit still and you'll be fin! Just trust me!"

Yes, those final words were to settle me down and remove all my fears so I could enjoy the trip. Larry carefully observed me sitting like a cement statue per his instructions. He started to shove the canoe from the shore. My heart was beating faster; both excitement and fear had me poised to explode, but then I remembered Larry's words of comfort, "Trust me," which calmed me.

Larry shoved the canoe a bit further out into deeper water, and what to my wondering eyes did appear? My 6 foot 3 inch, 180 pound, tall lanky husband galloping from the shore at full speed! In his best impression of Daniel Boone he leaped into the canoe. The next thing I knew, I was in the water, and the canoe was on top of me! I screamed and panicked, trying my best to get to shallow water. Larry (my hero) rushed and flipped the canoe the right side up. He had such a surprised and embarrassed look on his face. I wasn't too impressed however! I hollered, 'What on earth were you doing JUMPING into the canoe?" He squirmishly answered, "Well, that's what they do in the movies on TV." I shouted, "You are not Daniel Boone---that was dumb!" We then just began to laugh hysterically. In fact, we have gotten hundreds of laughs over the years on account of the "Just trust me" statement. Needless to say, whenever he gives me that look and says, "Just trust me", I return a look that says, "no sale"! I wonder why? HA!

I love my husband dearly and throughout the years, he has shown that he thinks before he does so my trust in him has returned…well, most of it anyway.

I am daily reminded of times I feel I am once again in a canoe in life's boundary waters floating helplessly towards life's rocky waterfalls and disappointing boulders in my life. I've learned that I can trust Jesus---the only One who is able to carry my through safely. When fear begins to surface, I go back to His precious Word and it's promises, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God, in Him will I trust." (Psalms 91:1-2) Isaiah 41:10 declares, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

I have learned from life's experiences that I really cannot place my trust in man because he is human and is limited to what he can do. I have learned to place my total, complete, absolute trust in God who can carry me all the way.

Friend, trust God! He cares for you! "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms…." (Deut. 33:27)