My partner and I went paddle boating on Table Rock Lake in Missouri this weekend. I quickly realized that paddling was going to take more energy than I had anticipated. We had rented the paddle boat for a few hours and after the first 15 minutes there was already a little pain in my hip. Then I heard the familiar whisper of Spirit telling me to relax, take my time, avoid resistance, and all would be well.
I am part of a small Eckhart Tolle study group, and we are currently studying the Tao de Ching. This week we set a collective intention to go with the flow when challenges arise, trying not to offer any resistance. Out on the water I got the perfect opportunity to practice. I knew if I peddled too hard, I would get worn out long before we were done with our excursion.
I told my partner that I wanted to just mosey along and take our time. We had nowhere to be and nothing to do but enjoy the lake and scenery. We would peddle together a bit, but we mostly took turns so that each of us would have time to just rest and relax. I noticed that when he took a turn, my partner was still putting forth a lot of effort, but we didn’t seem to go much faster than when I peddled slowly, barely putting any effort into it at all.
I kept remembering the Tao philosophy of doing nothing, just being and going with the flow, and trusting that everything that needs done will be accomplished. Somehow when you trust The Way, things just seem to get done. So that is what I did while we were out on the boat. I just trusted that we would get it back in time and I went with the flow. I smiled inwardly at the effort my partner continued to exert. I accepted that was where he was on his path that day and that it was okay.
The next day I woke up feeling refreshed (although a bit sunburned). My body felt rejuvenated by nature and exercise from the day before. My partner, who had continued to feel the need to offer more resistance in his peddling, woke up feeling sore and uncomfortable.
This week, when challenges arise, try softening yourself to them. Offer no resistance and trust that things are going just as they should and will work out exactly as they are meant to.