River Lessons

You’re carrying two heavy habits at once: replaying past regrets and rehearsing future catastrophes. That split focus leaves the present—the only moment you actually live—empty. This message names that exact struggle and points out how constant paddling to catch up or control steals joy, peace, and the simple gifts that are right in front of you. The talk uses a weekend floating a river as a practical map: stop paddling, be still, and let the current (and God’s guiding care) carry you. It connects small practices—praying at meals, noticing things at stoplights, saying thank you—to a larger freedom found in trusting grace. You’ll hear why two words changed everything on that float, how someone who’s been ahead can steady you through the bends, and why the present can finally feel like a gift worth staying for.