God's Angel

Kailua Bay, on the east side of Oahu, is so amazing. You get there through lush mountainous terrain with breathtaking expanses of valleys. The water was aqua blue. The sun sent warmth over you after splashes from waves doused you.

The waves had gotten rough, and it was taking awhile to let each kayak go to two small islands. Just as I was about to turn, a monster wave came up. I faced into it but instead of breaking through the top of the crest, the nose of the boat turned right. The kayak turned on top of me, and I tumbled through the water.

My body came upon the reef - solid, cutting, scraping. My feet pushed off, slicing my toes, my fingers grasped the sharp pockets. As I reached my boat, I heard Jacob coming. “Grasp the other side, pull it over!” I hauled my belly onto the kayak and swung around.

Then I saw another wave – only this was bigger than the last. I turned my back to it. I was moving so fast and up so high. The nose started to turn. I capsized again. I stayed out of control longer. I kept getting jacked between sharp rocks.

I was frantic at this point. This is when I hollered for God’s help. I felt, for a surreal moment, that there was a decision being made: to help Lori or to not help Lori. I surprised myself with the fervent request. I had been refraining from naming God recently, afraid of a past belief system that had let me down. It was only in this desperate moment, when the real truth of your being becomes known to you, that I was able to call out God’s name.

I saw Jacob, panic across his face as he reached me. I was surprised at my strength in pulling my body across his boat. His arms engulfed me and he held me tight. “I thought I lost you, Lori! Thank you…”. He felt like an angel - my corporeal angel that holds me tight into his chest like something precious.

We only had a few hundred yards to paddle after that to return to our launch. It was a nice, calming paddle, a good end to a challenging day. “Thanks for rescuing me.” I said when I hugged Jacob goodbye. Thank God that was the decision that was made.