We're down to Port! We're down to Starboard!

Today at 6:15 am, just off San Quentin point, in the dark, I had one of those "aha" moments that helps me connect the Gospel and people's truths about it. I turned around to Beverlee from my place in the five seat and whispered "we're down to starboard!" Meaning "the entire boat is tipping towards the starboard side. Beverlee said "no we're not, we're down to port!"Meaning "no, we're tipping the opposite way from what you are saying."

Two very experienced rowers, sitting in the same boat, each with an oar, and we did not agree on the most basic of "facts"...which way the boat was tipping. We agreed it was tipping, just not the same way! So when I argue with someone about theology, my truth may be different from her truth, while at the same time we are both coming from the place of experience, reason, and commitment.

Here's what rowing teaches me about spiritual truths: no matter how much we disagree, we are still in the same boat. We may not be in the same church, but we are both human beings worthy of respect. We can either work against each other, insisting that our position is right and trying to fix things by insisting that we are correct. In rowing, this is the quickest way to have a terrible row.

Or, or we can try and work together since the point of rowing is to move the boat forward, not to debate which way the boat is tipping.

That's what rowing gave me as spiritual reflection this morning!