Have you ever been kayaking in a river? With COVID-19 changing many of our plans for this summer, we have spent a lot more time doing things out in nature. There have been a lot more walks around our community, kids riding bikes and scooters, and even some bigger hikes and adventure. A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go kayaking for the second time in my life and did not pass it up.

My first experience kayaking was two years ago, and our group was extremely overconfident. It looked easy when other people did it, and I have played sports all my life. It surely could not be that difficult, I thought. We learned a lesson that day. The river won, taking most of our possessions far downstream, never to be seen again. I am not sure at which set of rapids it was, but at some point the river took my pride as well. I was humbled but I had learned through the experience.

The second go around with kayaking a few weeks ago proved to be much more enjoyable as everything went smoothly. We knew exactly what to expect. We knew what to watch out for. We were prepared. The river did not win round 2.

One of the things we had learned was that the most dangerous parts of the river are not what you expect them to be. For a first-timer, the undulating waves of the rapids seem to be the most likely thing to throw you (and your kayak!) for a loop.

It takes experience to realize that the real danger is not the water but the rocks that lie underneath. The waves you can see in the distance coming toward you, but the rocks lie beneath the water’s surface completely hidden until your kayak is being tossed as one side is tipped high as it skids over.

In our lives and in our faith, we face a similar situation. There are temptations and clear dangers that we can spot from a mile away. We can avoid them for the most part and be heavily prepared for them if we must face them. Because the flashing red lights of danger shine so brightly, we tend to maneuver around these situations very well. The obvious temptations seldom are the ones that bring us down. We must resist the temptation to become overconfident though.

Over and over again in the Bible, we are told to be on our guard. Not only is the devil prowling around us like a hungry predator waiting for the opportune time to take us down, he is very subtly setting up traps and snares to trip us up when we least expect it. These are the rocks hiding beneath the waves. Those hard to see rocks of greed, pride, jealousy, covetousness, and false teaching stand to catch us off guard and send us for a loop if we are not prepared.

We must approach each day with a humble heart seeking God’s discernment and strength. We must look out for one another, pray for one another, and collectively be on our guard against every temptation to sin. Luke 21:36 warns us, “But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

May we humbly enter into this coming week more alert than ever before!