Lessons from a River

On Tuesday Jordan and I had the unique opportunity of hiking the Virgin River in Zion in what is called "The Narrows" hike. The Narrows had been closed for 40 days prior to our arrival, since March, for the spring snow melt. We learned Monday, our first day in Zion, that they were rumored to be opening and immediately made plans to take advantage. Because the river temps were in the 50's and the water levels were chest high at times, we rented full dry suits, boots, neoprene socks and hiking sticks from a local outfitting, Zion Guru. All proved to be essential in our hike both for comfort and safety.

After dressing in our "space suits" as I liked to call them, we hopped on the shuttle for a 40 min ride to the Temple of Sinawava, walked a mile along a paved path to our launching point, and jumped into the river. Almost 7 hours later we emerged, tired, exhausted, cold and only haven covered roughly 8.5 miles. Growing up having LOVED rock skipping up rivers and streams, the hike was a tremendous treat for me, yet also very humbling. While I won't replay it mile for mile, here are a few lessons that I learned from the river:

No one path is necessarily the correct one. Each has its share of challenge, adventure.

Don't fight the fall, but instead, roll with the flow, regain your footing and get back up again.

Lean into the challenges that you encounter and don't give up!

Don't forget to stop, take it all in and maintain perspective of the big picture.

It's hard to predict what's just around the river bend.

Together we can accomplish so much more than trying to make the journey on our own.