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The Grand River… A Spiritual Canoe Trip for the Broken?

Canoeing the Grand River of southern Ontario or any wilderness water… is visiting nature’s psychiatrist couch. The act of paddling has this “stilling” effect on the spirit house within. The aboriginal Indians put great time emphasis on connecting with creation and the Creator. They visited nature’s psychiatrist couch on a regular basis.

Today, setting aside reflective time is rare. “Busy-ness” rules, the traffic of life crushes. And few escape. Disconnected people have become broken people… and no income level is immune to the pain. Healing is needed… a moment’s haven… a breath for those who have been bent too long.

Perhaps a simple drift on a river is the place to unravel everything. Tunnel vision is replaced by a panoramic sky-view of life. Magnificent scenery with each dip of the paddle…. a slowing down… a stepping out from the race. Captured moments are given… lasting forever… creating “Liquid Medicine for the Soul”.

As an avid canoeist I paddled to experience… to take in as much of the wilderness as I could. But that changed when I took a canoe journey with a broken man. I saw the rejuvenation of a spirit… a healing effect… and witnessed the story that I am about to share.

Once when I was going on a one week canoe trip, I invited a man battling with a suicide of depressions. He was overcome by emotion… wobbly in his thoughts, unsure of his decisions and physically zapped, but he said “yes” to the canoe trip. The trip pushed him. He was so busy just trying to do it. He was exhausted carrying packs around the rapids. He dreaded getting back in the canoe to paddle the next stretch. His anticipation of the whole experience was waiting for the trip to end.

Unknown, he was slowly woven into the fabric of those he traveled with. Seven days changed him within… reflecting out. Laughter returned over mistakes once unforgiven. He gained confidence as unexplained fears were accepted. He jabbered as he paddled… indulging in my youngest son’s imagination. He even cooked his first campfire meal. And when sleep came, it was no longer restless… but deep. He was so busy… that he didn’t have time to let his mind drain his worth.

So what happen… was it the mystic connection to the river and creation that changed this broken man?

I believe the healing came from stepping into an uncomplicated world. A simple world created by a canoe trip. The trip involved paddling, eating, sleeping and fellowship. And those were the only basics required to enjoy life. Everything else was swept away. The physical ness of the trip forced different values to the fore front and the mindset changed. The repetitive grooving effect from the consuming past or the fearful future was dismissed. Instead there was the dealing with the present change… the bare essentials of surviving the canoe trip.

This strange personal time out on nature’s psychiatrist couch brought healing for the brokenness within. And it was strongly driven home when I received a card a couple of weeks later from the man I took. It simply said, “thank you… I no longer see the world in black and white… but as a rainbow of colours again!”

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Garth Pottruff does guided Grand River canoe , kayak and rafting trips. His background in forestry, edible plants, wildlife and native history makes a day with him a worth while timeout. His speciality is learning adventures with small groups using 8 person rafts as a floating classroom. With rafts anyone of any size, age or agility can safely participate in a river journey. For more information on these Grand River trips near Toronto Canada visit http//:www.grandriverrafting.ca

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