The Challenge - The Decision

Here in Texas, there is a race called, the Texas Water Safari. It's billed as the toughest race in the world. It 262 miles long, and begins in San Marcos, Texas, and ends in Seadrift, Texas, right on the coast. It's 262 miles of paddling in a kayak or canoe. You have 100 hours to cover those 262 miles. So, there is little or no time for sleep, all food and provisions, have to be taken with you. The only outside help you can receive is ice or water from your team captain. I have heard about it for several years now. I didn't think much of it until last year one the men in out church competed in it with his brother.

A couple of weeks ago, Greg Wynn, that's his name, told me that his brother would not be in it this year. Greg, said he had asked around and really couldn't find a partner. Out of no where I said, hey I might give it a try. ( Now I don't where that can from. I might have just stuck my foot in my mouth.) I told Greg, I have never paddled any long distances. He suggested we try a short run one day and see. Well, we did. The idea was to paddle about say 8 miles, just something short to get a feel for it. We went instead 14 miles, and I was pumped. Could this be what God had in store for me? I don't know. We have now gone two more times on various sections of the river. Both times paddling close to 40 miles on each outing, averaging over 4 miles an hour. I know that may sound slow, but in a 17 foot canoe, that's a pretty good clip.

So that's the Challenge- to paddle in the Texas Water Safari, all 262 miles, with little or no sleep, stopping only as needed, going full tilt for 3 solid days. Pushing myself and Greg to the limit physically, mentally and emotionally. Being sunburned, maybe drowned, being wet and cold, surviving on liquid protein and power bars, getting so tired that you begin to hallucinate at night and see all sorts of weird things. Not to mention, putting up with snakes, gars, alligators, and bugs, and whatever else nature can throw at you. Just to finish is an accomplishment. There is no prize, just a patch that says you did it.

My Decision- Is to accept the challenge. Why, I do not know. I have asked my wife Becky to pray about it with me. She says go, I can see it in you. She told me, I can tell you are looking for a challenge, you have been restless and searching. My Men's group I meet with says go. Almost all my friends say, go. For me, the real deciding factor is what I sense God saying to me- G0. Now, I don't know why, I don't understand why I have been drawn to this, and what lies ahead, and what task God has for me to do in His name. Maybe it's not even about me, maybe it's about someone else along the way that needs a touch from God.

So here goes, I know it's weird, but for those that know me, they know I have never been real normal. Here's link to Greg's story about he and his brother's race from last year so you can read and get a sense of the size of this task.
http://pages.suddenlink.net/1/TWS.html

Here is also a link to the Texas Water Safari Website.
http://www.texaswatersafari.org/

Please lift Greg Wynn and I up in prayer as we continue to train and prepare for this great adventure.