Lessons from a waterfall

We got to go explore the island of Pohnpei this weekend. It was fantastic!
As part of this experience we were taken to see some ancient Pohnpei ruins and visit some waterfalls. During school I heard a lot about these waterfalls and was eager to launch myself safely off one of them and jump into the deep pool below.

I had psyched myself up for this event and had pictured myself jumping off yelling Geronimo! on the way down...unfortunately when I arrived on the scene it had begun to lightly rain which meant there was a safety element to be considered as if the rain got an heavier a flash flood could come and cause terrible disaster as the waterfall spills over to another one directly below with only a small rock lip to protect you.

When I arrived Jesse (Iris Micronesia Director) basically said to us if you want to jump you'll need to jump now.  I sat there and gathered my courage to jump... and didn't.

The rain had begun to get a bit heavier which meant that my window for jumping was about a minute and then I would have to swim quickly over to the other bank and get out. It had stopped feeling like a safe activity.

As we sought shelter from the now heavy rain, I sat there very disappointed. I was about to chastise myself for not jumping immediately which in the past would have been a recipe for negative self-talk, which would have turned into beating myself up about it and then  dwelling on how stupid I was blah blah blah LIES!

I realised in that moment though that I had a choice... I could do that.. and wreck my otherwise amazing day with my tribe exploring the islands or Praise God in all circumstances, choose joy and thank God for his mercies, for his goodness and that I got to experience something that many other people only dream about...

I was so thankful that I chose joy! The entire day was amazing! I got to swim underneath another waterfall and look up at the cascading water and marvel at just a small taste of God's awesome power, I got to visit some ancient ruins that are at least 1000 years old and I got to hang out with my amazing tribe members. We even had lunch in an abandoned restaurant that had more amazing views of the island complete with it's own gazebo and gorgeous wooden floors (redemptive beauty at it's best).

I am definitely choosing joy ALL the time from now on!

Lunch with my tribe at the abandoned restaurant..