Last summer, I visited a local park in London, United Kingdom where I saw a group of athletes preparing for a Rowing Event. I can’t swim, so I prefer to stay away from the large waterbodies. However, rowing has always been able to capture my attention. It’s an intense sport with a lot of athleticism. If you ever witnessed the grace and power of a rowing team in action, you would see even numbered team members who pull the boat through oars and a Coxswain who guides the boat. The sight of these synchronized bodies pulling with fierce determination, propelling their sleek boats across the still water. Whenever I watch them, a few key observations strike:
- Their speed,
- Their backward-facing posture,
- Their unwavering focus on maintaining a clean, straight line.
These simple observations, upon reflection over evening tea, often become surprisingly apt metaphors for life itself. Like a rowing event, our time flows in one direction, a linear progression from the first breath we take to that unknown finish line. And, like the rower, we hurtle through the river of time, propelled by the relentless current. We can’t see the future, the bends in the river hidden by the mist of uncertainty.