Hubby and I pushed away from the dock and headed out across the brilliant blue waters of Baker Lake!
I was immediately struck with the realization that kayaking takes muscle! I had no idea. It’s always looked so effortless from the shore.
And not only that … there’s a current in the lake! I had no idea! For every stroke of the paddle, it felt as if we only moved forward a few inches. Seriously?!?
When it comes to relationships, the same thing is true. We see other people in their relationship (dating, marriage, parenting, work, etc.) and it looks so effortless … so seamless … so easy.
Then we step into our own relationship and discover the stark reality that this relationship takes effort!
Relationship takes “muscle” … you have to work at a relationship! It doesn’t just happen.
As hubby and I paddled across Baker Lake, it was not long before my arms began to feel weak and flabby. “This is ridiculous,” I thought. “We’ve hardly been out here at all. There are places to go! The entire lake to explore! Look … there are tents on the far shore … surely we can make it over there to check it out.”
We paddled and paddled and paddled … and finally, we sailed past the tents on the far shore. But the realization was setting in that I simply was not strong enough to go the distance I originally thought I could.
If I wanted to kayak the entire lake, we would not be doing it today. It would require a lot more times out on the water. It would require exercising at home to build up muscle. Kayaking requires substantial upper body strength … who knew! Upper body strength is not something I have much of. Also … kayaking requires core body strength … something else of which I do not have much.
Exercising at home is not fun. Kayaking the entire lake sounds like a whole lot more fun!
When it comes to relationships, we want to “go the distance.” We want to “explore the entire lake” and see where this relationship takes us! That sounds like fun! But “exercising” … that’s not much fun.
If we want to “go the distance” relationally, we must “exercise” individually on our own, as well as together, to build strength into the relationship.
We need to build up “core strength” … deep down strength of our core character. Strength to keep going and not give up. Strength to endure when times get hard. Strength to stroke across the current. Strength to stroke against the current. Strength to try, and try, and try … even when it feels like we aren’t making any progress. Because … in reality, we are … we are making progress! Even if we can’t see it in the moment.
Work at building “muscle” in your relationship.
Put in the effort! Try hard! Don’t give up. You’re making progress! The relationship is getting stronger! The relationship is going somewhere!
