7 Life Lessons from Whitewater Rafting
(or How to Remain at Peace When You’re Afraid)

by Kitty Cleveland

Years ago I joined some friends in a thrilling whitewater rafting excursion down the frigid Snake River in Jackson Hole, WY. I had rafted down the Nantahala River in North Carolina many times in the past (once getting trapped under the raft), and I’d even rafted this river before in a large raft. But this time was different.

This time I ended up being assigned the front of a little two-person duckie with a wisp of a woman steering in back. Seriously, I easily had about six inches and 60 pounds on her. I hollered out to our fearless leader on the big, safe raft next to us, "Shouldn't I be in the back of this thing?" She assured me that my strength would be needed to power through the danger up ahead. That's when I started praying. Lesson 1: ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGE GOD FIRST.