Do you remember the air raid training schools used to do with kids? The one in front threw his paddle away, put his head down between his knees, and covered his head! I guess he thought, "If it works for a bomb, it will work for the river." So, I shouted at the one in back, "Just use your paddle like a rudder!" Then, he stood up! He stood up! He didn't use the paddle to steer. Instead, standing there, he reached up to hand it to me! He was quite a distance from me, but I guess he thought I was going to catch it!

And that is how they went through the white water: spinning in a circle, the one in front ducked over and the one in the back yelling, "I want to go home!" Of course, they capsized.

They were not hurt. I would never have put them someplace they could be hurt. They just floated on down through the white water into the river beyond where it smoothed out. But all their gear was lost and that aluminum canoe was pounded into tin foil at the bottom of the river. You could have wrapped sandwiches in that canoe.

As a YMCA counselor, I was responsible not only for the kids, but also for the equipment. After being sure that the boys were okay, my next thought was that I might have to pay for that canoe, so I was worried. I looked up to see the other kids coming behind them. Apparently, this had been a bad idea. The next canoe behind them was already in the "V". It was already in the current and I could not stop it — and in it were the two skinniest little girls you could ever imagine. They were the smallest kids in the whole group. I said, "Oh no! I am going to be bankrupt by the time we finish this! I'll have to pay for all these canoes!" But I could not stop them, so I just started shouting to them, "I know it's going to look scary. I know it's going to look fierce, but just paddle! Keep on paddling. Do what I tell you to do. It's OK to be scared! Just do what I tell you! Just keep on paddling!"

I could see it in their eyes when they saw the water. I could see the fear. I could see the blood drain out of their faces. I could see their eyes get large. But you know what? They kept on paddling. Scared to death, shaking like leaves in a winter wind, they kept on paddling. They went into that white water, and then they were down and up, down and up, and finally down and out! They went sailing through, screaming for joy, having more fun than they had ever had in their lives! They came through soaking wet and absolutely triumphant! And then those two little girls went paddling on down the river to pick up the boys.

What is God saying to the church at Philadelphia and to you and me this morning? "Keep on paddling!" I know it is scary. I know it can be turbulent. Some of you are facing incredible white water episodes right now. Remember that God does not ask us not to be afraid. He gives us permission to shake like leaves, but He says, "Keep on doing what I tell you. Keep on paddling! As you do, the day will come when you break through to smooth sailing."