ワシントン州南部に広がるセントヘレナ火山。
そのすぐ近くの山奥に広がっているColdwater Lake へ行ってきました。
この湖の縁を1周するように人がようやく通れる幅ほどの狭いトレイルが続いています。そこをマウントバイクで駆け進み、人がいないプライベートビーチを目指します。
早速湖に入ってみると名前ほど水は冷たくなく、泳ぐのに適していました。湖の中ほどにある無人島が目の前に見えます。
子供らはその無人島まで泳いで行こうかなんてことを話し合っているので、またまた老婆心を現した私は反対意見を伝えます。
ほとんど聞く耳を持たないまま、一人の家人が水に飛び込むとそのまま島を目指して泳ぎだしました。子供らも次々にそれに続きます。やむなく私も彼らの後追って泳がざるをえません。
距離にすると120-130メーターほどだと思います。
数キロ遠泳したことのある私自身は問題感じませんが、子供らがそれだけの距離を泳いだ記憶は無いのです。
もし途中で足でもつったら、
体力が尽きたら、
溺れたら、、、
と変な想像ばかりをしてしまうのです。
彼らは恐れる事もなくスイスイと無事に島までたどり着くと、私の到着を待たずにその島の頂上まで手足を使ってはい登っていました。
昨日は彼らがプールに飛び込むその高さを心配し、
そして今日は泳ぐ距離の長さを心配しました。
親の心配をよそに、
子供らは親の気がつかない間に成長し、
いつの間にか親を追い越してしまってるようです。
"一方、少年サムエルは、主にも人にもいつくしまれ、ますます成長した。"
サムエル記 第一 2章26節
The St. Helena Volcano spreads out in the southern part of Washington State.
We went to Coldwater Lake, which is located deep in the mountains near the volcano.
There is a narrow trail that circles the edge of the lake and is barely wide enough for a person to pass.We rode our bikes there to get to a private beach where there was no one there.
The water is not as cold as the name suggests, and it's a good place to swim.We could see an uninhabited island in the middle of the lake.
The kids were discussing the possibility of swimming to the uninhabited island, and I, again showing my old parentheses, spoke out against it.
Almost deafeningly, one of the family members jumped into the water and started to swim towards the island.One by one, the children followed suit.I had no choice but to swim after them.
There was about 120-130 meters.
I had swum a few kilometers before, so I didn't have a problem with it, but I couldn't remember any of the children swimming that far.
If they get a foot injury along the way.
If their strength is exhausted.
If they drown...
I couldn't help but imagine such things happened.
They didn't have to wait for me to arrive, they made it to the top of the island.
Yesterday I was worried about how high they would jump into the pool.
And today I worried about the length of the swim.
Despite my parents' concerns,
Children grow up without their parents' knowledge.
It seems to have overtaken their parent before I know it.
“And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with people.”
1 Sam. 2:26
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