We took a crew down the Nantahala rapids yesterday in Bryson City, NC. It was Fred‘s birthday, and so we forgave him for getting us lost on the way. It was just a hodge podge of people – youth, college, adults (Kyle stated, “uh, that means that I am one of the adults now…” – why, yes you are, old man).
I think I liked it that way. It wasn’t a part of North Side, it was just North Side. One big family. We came together for some fellowship and ripping down some rapids.
It was a much needed day for me. I needed something that didn’t require me to strategize or plan for ministry. I just was the rudder on the back of the raft. Just to show you how this wasn’t a tough rapid, I was our raft’s guide and we didn’t have to wear helmets. Scary. Not the helmets, me being the guide was scary.
We made it through. Whenever we would get through a rapid, I would normally say something annoying like, “what can we learn from that?” “What did you realize there about teamwork?” Or, “That’s a lot like us spiritually, you know?”
Fun stuff. I want to go again.

Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.