White Water Ride

 Events there are that lie ahead which vary in their power;
There's four responses to these things affecting us each hour;
They drive us to distraction from the things that are most precious;
And if we are not careful they become a master vicious.

The challenge is that marriage-mates find opposites attractive –
At least at first, in early years, because we're interactive;
But tolerance for things in life which we find grate our senses
Drops gradually, so we erect a set of strong defences.

We neutralize our better-halves (and colleagues, partners, bosses),
Until the best in all of life is garbage that one tosses,
Which doesn't leave a lot to do to raise our satisfaction –
We tiptoe in an egg-shell world avoiding bad reactions.

There is another way, of course, to gain some satisfaction,
But let's appraise the four main types of power inter-action:
Type-one avoids it like the plague and finds a better routing;
Type-two enjoys adrenaline, goes forward horns a-tooting;

Type-three attempts to harness up such energy for action;
Type-four diffuses bombs for fun, from that he gains his traction.
But when a mis-match on the team occurs (whatever reason),
The stress increases once there comes a power-laden season.

So who selects approach to take (which violently differ)?
It's best to talk it out ahead, lest needlessly we suffer –
(I shouted, “Don't pull out!” one time to driver not so cautious
We were a small car on the road – his driving made me nauseous).

For I'm a bomb-disposal type; sometimes I use such power;
I'm not afraid to move ahead; don't like a rush-an-hour;
Sometimes I turn my back and walk away when life is threatened –
For sometimes we’re not up to it, despite how big our weapon.

A quick decision I can make, adjusting later choices;
I like to see all obstacles, and then select a process;
I think ahead, (contingencies, with buffers each addressing);
Then confidently move ahead with frequent re-assessing.

There is a place for wisdom-words informing all my actions,
Drawn constantly into my mind, they modify reactions;
And then, of course, the Spirit leads when I'm confronting power,
For God's the strongest, wisest, love for all in such an hour.

Sometimes it's best we go through hell which we can sense approaching;
Sometimes it's best to turn away despite intense reproaching;
Sometimes it's best to harness up such energy emerging;
Sometimes it's fun to take the ride, all caution, fear, submerging.

That's where the strength comes in for those whose team-mates differ strongly;
There's more perspectives in the mix – avoids responding wrongly;
Some principles must be laid down when we're white-water running,
Like, “Take a break in quiet pools each time we see them coming”.

For compromise is there for most, or alternating actions,
If we're to get through life intact, both with some satisfactions;
Sometimes there's time to talk it out, sometimes response is pressing,
When pre-set plans ahead can start emergency addressing.

So now, in marriage number ten, with context now a-changing,
We'd best select how we'll respond to life that's re-arranging;
For forty years we've figured out how we'd approach such power,
When it's embedded in events emerging every hour.

There is a drop in tolerance for stress – our bodies aging;
There is diminished energy for battles which are raging;
Our wisdom's up – that's fortunate – “work smarter, not work harder”
So we can bring the bacon home, top up our buffer's larder.

As we cut back, drop out, slow down, and re-assess our future,
We need to watch each other's backs, and take some time to nurture
Each other in the rest of life – of what remains – to use it,
Lest easing off, and letting go, means we forever lose it.

I like the challenge facing us, it calls for great awareness,
Of how to navigate the gorge, enjoy the river's fastness;
Experience we gained so far we'll draw on like a treasure,
As we take this white-water ride – address it well together.

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