The Value of Wave Breakers

I almost drowned last month …OK, not really, but I swallowed enough water during a recent swim that I entertained the possibility I might drown.

I’m not a great swimmer, but it’s been my exercise of choice for nearly 10 years. The waves in the pool on this recent evening were terrible. I bobbed and weaved all over my lane, gulping water and getting dizzy and disoriented.

In the middle of my second lap I felt myself starting to panic. After just three lengths, I stopped at the wall, exhausted. What on earth was going on?

I felt like I was swimming in the ocean. As I looked around the pool, I counted only six people. Two teenage boys were attempting to swim the butterfly in the lanes right next to me. They weren’t very good at it, or very smooth.

Assuming they were the source of the waves, I stared at them a couple times hoping they would move over, give up or switch to an easier stroke. In true teenage form, they completely ignored me. Clearly, they couldn’t see the intensity of the glares behind my swim goggles.

I continued on. After a few more laps I was clinging to the edge again, trying to recover. I saw a guy four lanes over doing the same thing. “Why is it so wavy in here?” I yelled over at him.

“No lane ropes,” he said. I’m sure he felt like saying, “Duh, lady – didn’t you notice that?”

I had noticed, of course, but never imagined they were so important. I thought the ropes just organized the swimmers, and never realized they organized the waves too.

I wanted to quit and go home, but I had worked too hard to arrange this time at the pool and really wanted a swim. So, I told myself to stop being such a wimp and pushed away from the wall.

For the rest of that swim, when I wasn’t worrying about being swamped by a wave or passing out from dizziness, I thought about how valuable lane ropes are in the pool and in life.

Everyone needs the protection of lane ropes -- family, friends, mentors -- people who stand near, help keep us on course, break the waves, and strengthen us to stay afloat among the challenges that inevitably penetrate their barrier.

I’ve been blessed with a steady line of lane ropes, and hate to imagine how I would be today if I had lived fully exposed without the strong presence and love from family and friends who have been at my side breaking the waves.

A lot of people aren’t nearly as fortunate. Many, even in our own community, could use some extra wave breakers. A 30-minute swim was a good reminder to jump in the water more often for my neighbors to make their swimming a little bit smoother. Some money, a ride, a helping hand, even just a smile.

You never know when you might save someone from drowning.