Just keeping my head above water
I'm swimming in a sea of lesson plans and un-graded papers. There is no land in sight. I've traveled these waters many times and though they always seem overwhelming I always make it to the shallows if I just keep swimming.
I am suddenly reminded of an incident from my childhood. We had an above ground swimming pool in our backyard and the neighborhood kids were always at our house. I spent most of my waking moments in that pool and became a very good swimmer because of it.
One year my father bought an inflatable canoe. We, of course, threw it in the pool. We were deep in the middle of a wonderful game of 'king of the raft' when, as I got pushed off, my foot got tangled in the ropes around the sides of the canoe. I was caught. My foot was tied to the boat. I was under the boat. The boat was surrounded by lots of jumping and screaming children.
I distinctly remember trying to swim up and being blocked. Trying to get their attention and not being noticed. I punched and clawed and pinched and swam and kicked and hit. Then my strength left me and I drifted to the bottom. I felt the seam of the pool's lining against my shoulder. I was still holding my breath. I could see the watery, blue figures all around me. I closed my eyes.
Then I was grabbed and lifted. The air was sweet to my lungs but I could not move as I lay in my mother's arms.
Sometimes, often times, I find myself in the same position, unable to move and out of breath just resting in my heavenly father's arms.
