Stormy Waters
It was raining. Of course it was raining; the one day we planned to hire a boat to take us fishing and snorkeling. For months we had anticipated this family trip to Thailand. With so many people going (thirteen in all), we didn’t want to make too many plans for ourselves. But since the girls had learned how to swim, we really wanted to give them a chance to snorkel, building up in their minds the underwater world that would open up to them with their masks on.
It wasn’t raining as we arrived at the boat, nor for the first hour of our time asea. We hoped to land on the 10% side of the weather forecast. However, shortly after pulling out the fishing rods, the heavens let loose. This is what half the passengers on our boat had come to do, so we passed the poles around in a vain effort to catch something for lunch. Some people got seasick, the kids got bored, and everyone was soaking wet.
Wrong Side of the Odds
We pulled anchor and docked at an island during an intense downpour. After scrambling to a covered table area, we were served chicken nuggets and rice for an early lunch. Then it was back in the boat to motor to another island where we could finally go snorkeling. It was still raining when we got there, which made seeing anything in the shallow, murky water impossible. After a little while, we bought some overpriced beverages and ice cream while waiting for a break in the clouds.
With no hope of drying off, we tried snorkeling one more time and saw a couple of small fish. Nothing exotic. My daughter stubbed her toe on the reef and declared she didn’t like snorkeling. When we got back in the boat to try a new fishing spot, it wouldn’t start. The locals who served us the overpriced ice cream had to tow us back to shore, where we struggled to climb up the rocky landing. To think we actually paid for all this…
An Adventure at Sea
Despite an overcast sky and a 90% chance of rain, we couldn’t resist chartering a boat during our family trip to Ko Samui, an island in the Gulf of Thailand. We reached our fishing spot before the rain started, even casting a few times while we were still relatively dry. The kids all got to cast and reel, and Papa let the youngest help him bring in the catch of the day! While it wasn’t enough to feed everyone aboard, there was plenty of excitement as they pulled it in.
Since the fish weren’t biting, it was starting to rain harder, and some passengers were feeling the effects of the choppy water, we motored over a little early to our lunching island. Rain was coming down in sheets at this point, and we were thrilled to see the restaurant was covered. From our shelter, we watched the rain and waves only a few feet away pummeling the rocks beneath us. And the food did not disappoint! Spicy soup, fried rice, veggies, fruit, and some absolutely delicious breaded chicken gave everyone something to enjoy.
A Break in the Clouds
In Thailand, so I’m told, there’s the hot season, the hotter season, and the hot and wet season. We were visiting during the latter, which meant even though it was pouring rain, it never really got cold. By the time our boat got to the island where we were meant to snorkel, we were completely soaked. This made getting into the ocean water a breeze, even for me! There wasn’t much to see in the sandy water, so we walked a few yards to a shelter where Papa treated everyone to drinks and ice cream. While there, the sun came out and the water calmed down. My daughter and I swam to a buoy to see if the water had settled enough to see the reef. We both spied various sea plants, cool rocks, and even some fish darting around!
When everyone finished in the water, we piled back on board the boat, ready to try fishing again. We realized something wasn’t right when the two men hired to drive the boat couldn’t get it to start. Fortunately, the island locals had their own boat docked next to ours, and they graciously towed us back to shore. Since we were moving slower than our arrival speed, we got to enjoy the scenery even more than before. Surrounded by islands shrouded in low-hanging clouds, I felt like Lucy aboard the Dawn Treader, out to discover whatever lay before Prince Caspian’s magnificent ship.
Thankfully, we didn’t encounter any sea monsters, and no one turned into a dragon before we arrived at the dock. Everyone worked together to get the just-awakened and still-sleeping children from the boat to the landing. And since we weren’t able to go fishing again, we successfully negotiated a discounted price for our excursion. Win!
All About Attitude
As I’m sure you have guessed, both of these stories describe the same outing. There is no escaping the circumstances and events surrounding that outing were less than ideal. But we had a choice in how we experienced them. We could allow the negative waves to wash over us, resulting in what reads like a one-star review on Trip Advisor. Or we could choose to say, “POTA!” and roll with it, focusing instead on how to make the most of what we encountered, actively seeking the positive. In the moment, it was not natural or easy. It required a conscious decision. Honestly, thinking about this blog, and the overarching message I’m trying to portray through it, helped me turn the corner in my attitude as I sat in that boat, unable to escape the battering rain.
And it worked. The first version of the story was much harder for me to write than the second. My memories of that day are far more positive than negative. Had I tried to write more removed from the actual event, I doubt I could have written a believable negative version.
It’s the Thought that Counts
All this reminds me of the Apostle Paul, who penned his letter to the Philippians while under arrest. But he didn’t let his circumstances rob him of the joy to be found in them. “And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear,” (Philippians 1:12-14, NLT).
How was he able to have such an outlook on his downright awful situation? I believe a big part of it comes near the end of the letter, in 4:8. “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Our mind and the thoughts we allow into it dictate our attitude. Choose to think about the positive. Let it become a habit. You just may surprise yourself in the fond memories you have of a rainy day at sea.
Lovely Alyssa- enjoyed this very much!
Well stated and shared.