The slow-moving typhoon that hit Japan last week dumped A LOT of rain. The 99 round topped islands that dot the sea around Sasebo give it a natural buffer that shield it from destructive wind so there were no flipped cars, downed trees, or broken glass seen. On our first sunny day after the storm, I thought I would take the kids to see one of the many waterfalls in the area because I was banking on all the extra water from the storm making them remarkable. Annabelle couldn’t come as she made a date with a friend to go to the ginza/mall that afternoon, so I packed Happy and the twins into our white Nissan minivan, hit the GPS start button, and headed an hour away to explore one of the waterfalls on my list. I hoped the felled rain from the storm would not disappoint.
Nature has always been a respite and renewal for me. When I need to process life, get away from tension, or restore joy in my relationship with the Lord, I have often hit a hiking trail or traversed a creek. This was no exception. Being inside for days had helped the already relentless bickering between the kids surpass my red zone. “MOM, RONNIE IS IN MY SPACE!” “MOM, SHE KEEPS TOUCHING ME!” “MOM, CAN YOU TELL ANABELLE TO STOP?” “GET OFF OF ME!” “I ASKED HIM TO STOP AND HE WON’T” “SO, IT’S OK IF SHE PUNCHES ME?” Sigh. I needed a safe place, and I figured the twins would love shocking their bodies with the glacial pools of the falls, exploring the forest, and plus, they could keep distance from each other outside. I was hoping my refreshing place would become theirs.
The peace didn’t last long. The falls were gorgeous and powerful! The spray delighted our faces with cold fingers and we took some selfies after I threatened one of them to enter the frame. Then they screamed obnoxiously in this peaceful place about a spider and web blocking the way down a trail, so I calmly broke it for them hoping that would end the drama. Yet as they descended behind me, their voices ascended with annoyance toward me. “Guys, look around! How can you bicker with all this beauty?” When the annoyances were still being loudly proclaimed, I stopped, turned around, and announced we were going home. No 7-11 ice cream stop, no treat, no anything. I was done. In fairness, they tried to apologize after they gayly skipped back to the car and then realized how mad I was. “You ruined my happy place. I spent all morning looking for the best waterfall for you, I scoped out spots to stop for ice cream on the way home, when my sandals blew apart when we first got here, I tied vines around them so we could keep walking the trail, and we didn’t even get to go to the chilly pools at the bottom of the falls so you to swim. Why can’t you get your eyes off yourselves and your pride to enjoy a glimpse at the power of God? This was supposed to be a fun bonding time together!” The ride was silent on the way home. I continued to process these events and pray for wisdom. This was not the peace I longed for.
When we got home, I told them I have seen their greatness. We had such a fun time together on Fuji and survived crazy bike rides on sidewalks to narrow for bikes to pass, but we did. Japan is full of adventures that we can experience and I wanted to do it with them! I also forgave them but still needed to walk off the lingering hurt. As I walked, I asked some questions: Were my expectations too high? Is this just a phase? What else can I do to help them mature? Why can’t they just get along? What is this insatiable urge to be better than the other, to have the last word? Why do they always want to get even? Then I looked at my own heart. Why do I let their sin affect me so much? Why do I give them the power to steal my joy? Why do I take this so personally? Is there any sin pattern in my own life that I am blinded too? Do I want my way more than anything else? Do I compete for my own glory? I asked the Lord to forgive my own heart and then wondered in His love that never gives up on me. How is He so patient with my antics? Why doesn’t He need to take a break from me? How does He not need a break from this world filled with sinful hearts like mine? I truly am in awe of this great God whose love is freely given and not earned or lost with my less than great behavior.
This Labor Day I decided to try again. Could we labor through it? (Did you see what I did there?) I chose another waterfall nearby and all three kids, the dog, and I entered our white wheels of exploration to begin our adventure. We stopped at a Lawson’s to have a ‘choose your own adventure lunch’ and then finished the drive to the parking lot of the falls. I was hoping doing something special and fun before the fun would help with attitudes? I’m trying here! We put Happy on a leash and started the trek up the mountain, past the Buddhist statues, Tori Gates, and shrines to find the waterfall. It was beautiful! The extra rain boosted the falling flow that produced a mist at the bottom of the falls that refreshed our faces once again. The pool at the bottom was a mystical aqua color that was cool and refreshing. At least my feet thought so. The kids gathered enough courage to jump in the frigid water with Happy trying to rescue each one as they plummeted into the deep then bounce up with peels of frigid glee. We were able to have fun, explore, hike, see a snake eat a frog headfirst, and traverse the creek at the bottom of the falls with only one correction! The only labor was me trying to walk back to the car with another broken flip flop. I tied another vine around my flip flop blowout in order to make it back to the car.
We hit up 7-11 on the way home for some ice cream and to reminisce on the fun we just had. I realize that the bickering will rear it’s ugly head again, I’ll take things too personally, and sin will ruin days, but for a few precious hours, we had a calm from the storm. It’s amazing what the Lord can teach from the Tale of Two Waterfalls after the test of a typhoon.