This week marks the two year anniversary of competing in a swim race from Europe to Asia through the Dardanelles Strait. The distance across the straight is 3,850 meters (a little over 2 miles). There is a cutoff time of 1 and a half hours meaning that if you aren’t finished by then, they will pick you up in a boat and bring you to shore. There is one safety boat for every 3 swimmers and only 150 people are allowed to enter .The current is somewhat tricky as it flows in both directions and is as fast as 2 knots at some points. Because of this, swimmers must swim in a ‘V’ across the straight instead of in a straight line.
It is a historical place for several reasons. It is the sight of the ancient Greek mythology story of Hero and Leander. They were in love with each other but one lived on one side of the straight and the other lived on the other side. Each night Leander swam across the straight to meet his love, Leander. One night during a terrible storm, Leander drowned in his attempt to swim across. Hero threw herself in the water in despair.
This story has inspired several love poems, one by Lord Byron. After writing the poem, he swam the straight himself in 1810.
In 5 BC it is thought Persian King Xerxes built a pontoon bridge across this point in his expedition against the Greeks. It is after this expedition that he most likely returned to Persia and married Queen Ester.
Like anything in Central Asia, I had to gather lots of paperwork in order to enter the race. I had to get a “Health Report” from the government health clinic. Were they concerned that I gave birth 3 months ago? Did they even say the traditional “May you have a long life” when I sneezed? NO! I stood in lines at four different windows to have different people fill out different parts of a form, they stapled on a passport picture and stamped the form in six different places. Very important places, I’m sure. None of which had anything to do with my health. I was ready to race.
As He does with any risk we are willing to take, the Lord used this experience to teach me about more about His heart and character as our Father, Shepard and Guide. Let me just go ahead and confess. I REALLY wanted to swim in the race but I was also REALLY scared. When I look back, I realize all my fears were rooted in distrust. I mean, this is a country where policemen stop the motorcyclists who are wearing helmets to reward them with candy instead of stopping the ones without helmets to give them tickets. Could I really trust these people to save my life should I have a problem out there?
The night before, a good friend (Matt S.) called from the states to encourage me. He shared the message version of Psalms 119:25
“Barricade the road that goes Nowhere;
grace me with your clear revelation.
I choose the true road to Somewhere,
I post your road signs at every curve and corner.
I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me;
God, don’t let me down!
I’ll run the course you lay out for me
if you’ll just show me how.”
This became my prayer of comfort for the next day. And my prayer of comfort when I got to the race and immediately burst into tears when I saw how competitive everyone was compared to my top heavy, just gave birth 3 months ago, out of shape self.
There was definitely some cultural flair-Of course, the race started late. There was no official horn or gun to signal the start, people just started jumping in. The ‘security boats’ weren’t exactly the safest drivers. Instead of lining the way to show the swimmers where to swim, they were spread out everywhere, even weaving in and out between swimmers!
My distrust for those boats who were supposed to line the course and show us the way increased. I began to pray Psalms 119:25 as I swam. ‘Lord, post your road signs at every curve and corner.’ ‘Don’t let me down.’ ‘I’ll run the course you lay out for me if you’ll just show me how.’
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a boat came up beside me. It seemed to be staying right beside me. I no longer had to lift my head every few strokes to mark my bearings because the boat was guiding the way, just for me. Amazing! As I swam, I knew that God had sent this boat for me, an answer to the cry of my heart, His road signs at every curve and corner! I allowed the boat to be my guide for the majority of the 50 minutes it took me to swim the straight. Just when I could see the finish line, the boat seemed to veer off course. It looked like he was going AWAY from the finish. ‘Those idiots’, I thought. ‘He probably saw a fellow fisherman over that way and decided to go tell him ‘hi’ in the middle of my race!’
I decided to leave the boat that had faithfully guided me across and head straight for the finish line. The driver seemed to be yelling something at me but I didn’t have time to stop to hear what he was saying.
The next thing I knew, I looked up to find myself several hundred yards past the finish line. I had been swept in the 2 knot current that ran right alongside the shore line. Now, the only way to even finish the race was to swim against this current, back to the finish. It was almost impossible. I had to fight with every ounce of strength left in me to get back to the finish! I was swimming but not advancing at all! I thought I would never make it and wanted to quit so badly but knew I couldn’t so close to the finish!
The boat driver had been leading me directly into the current so that it would rush me to the finish line. He was higher up and could see the currents from above. He had likely fished those waters his entire life and knew every inch of them. He genuinely wanted my success.
Did I listen? Did I trust him? Do I choose the road that goes Somewhere? Am I prideful? Do I try to control situations I should leave in God’s hands? Do I need more patience? Am I sometimes blinded to God’s provision, even when it stares me in the face? Ouch.
I didn’t win the race that day, but I learned a spiritual truth that will stay with me forever. God longs for us to run the course He has laid out for us. He longs to show us how.
Racers wating in line to board the boat that took us to the race start on the other side.
I ended up placing 3rd in my age group but didn't hear my name called/butchered so I took a picture later.
Awards Ceremony
Picture with the Governor
Cutie #1
Cuties #2 and 3 with our house cleaner who came to help with the kids.
Race Day Poem
race day.
oh Lord let this race bring you glory.
let me swim for you
as worship
in thanks
for your generosity
in creating me in a way that i can
have the privilege of honoring you
through sports.
