Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Appearance matters, even for government buildings ... Head and boulders above the rest ... J'ville planner at 'flash point' turns in resignation ... Our View: Appearance matters, even for government buildings ... Head and boulders above the rest ... J'ville planner at 'flash point' turns in resignation ... In Good Faith: Shifting perspective Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 6, 2014 at 9:09 AM Posted Oct. 6, 2014 at 9:09 AM » Social News By the Rev. Tim Schenck More Content Now One of the great gifts of having children is being drawn into their passions and interests, especially things you would never have discovered on your own. I often think about my late father, a symphony orchestra conductor with no interest in sports, who used to come to my Little League games. Over the years he developed a true love of baseball, and we spent many splendid afternoons watching the Orioles together at the old Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. This summer I received a similar gift from my own children. During a family outing the boys decided to try sea kayaking. They went out in a two-person tandem and while they nearly came to blows with the paddles accusing one another of not “pulling your weight,” they both decided they wanted to try it again -- in single-person kayaks. We’re fortunate to live near the water here in Hingham, Massachusetts, with two local kayak rental places. So off they went for an hour kayaking around the Weir River and, miracle of miracles, they got along famously out on the water. Stepping back onto dry land was another matter, but they both took to kayaking like, well, boats to water. Of course after renting kayaks a bunch of times it doesn’t take a financial wizard to figure out it would be cheaper to buy your own. The next thing I knew, we had a kayak rack on top of our SUV. At first I thought we should just stick with the rack and forget the kayak since it made us look so sporty driving around town. But a funny thing happened along the way: I got hooked. When I went out with them I immediately saw the attraction: good exercise, peaceful, scenic and a great way to spend quality time with the kids away from phones, laptops, video game consoles and televisions. It’s tough to text and paddle. So I started reading books about kayaking and anticipating the next voyage as much as the boys. Actually, as much as the whole family, since my wife caught the bug as well. Eventually, I found a used kayak on Craigslist that looked promising, and suddenly we were owners of the SS Schenck. It’s an orange and yellow 12 ½-foot kayak with a couple of storage hatches just big enough for a six-pack, I mean picnic basket. Yes, there were some lessons along the way, like learning that wet boats are slippery -- I broke the side mirror off my wife’s new car after the boat slipped off the rack following the maiden voyage. The repair of which will likely cost as much as that second kayak we’re still in the market for. And low tide is a lousy time to kayak unless you enjoy propelling yourself through muck. But what I have come to love most about kayaking is the new perspective I’ve gained. I had never seen my town from the water -- and it’s stunning. The small islands, the forest preserve, the boats dancing in the harbor. Sometimes a shift in perspective is just what we need to reclaim grateful hearts and renew our faith. I’m thankful to Ben and Zak for this gift, even if we lost a side mirror in the process. The Rev. Tim Schenck is Rector of the Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham, Massachusetts. Visit his blog “Clergy Confidential” at clergyconfidential.blogspot.com or follow him on Twitter at @FatherTim. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 6, 2014 at 9:09 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501