Lifeguard

I am a lifeguard at the YMCA located in Moberly, Missouri.

I really have a love-hate relationship with my job, though.
We call the pool "ghetto".
I have a kind, but scatter-brained supervisor.
And my co-workers tend to be lazy and messy.

But overall, I enjoy working at the Y.
I simply love lifeguarding.
I really do.

......

This morning a grandfather came in with his three granddaughters.
They're Saturday morning regulars.
So I knew what to expect with them.

The grandfather. Kind. Caring. Jolly, you could say.
Strapping flotation devices on.
Keeping an eye on the older two girls.
Holding the youngest, between 12 and 18 months old.
He catches her as she jumps in.
Supports her as she leans back in his arms, dipping her head into the water.
He never lets the older girls out of his sight, nor the youngest out of reach.
At one point, he let the youngest walk along the gutter at the pool edge... one hand behind her back, one hand in front of her... thus allowing her to 'freely' walk, but ready to provide guidance or stability if needed.

I couldn't help but think about God and His children as I watched the four of them. I feel that God is our Precautionary Ensurer, guaranteeing our well-being and always looking out for us. I must say that I feel pretty great living my life, knowing that the Lord God is my Lifeguard.

......

Safety.
Protection.

I love the responsibility of lifeguarding. And I like seeing others enjoy the water, whether for fun or fitness. I have always been a fish, for the most part. My family likes to remind me that when we lived in Alabama and swam in my gramma and papa's pool, I was always "the first one in, last one out." That is, once I had realized that I could touch the bottom of the pool. Before that, I would more often than not cling to the edge.

The smell of chlorine is so comforting to me. And I appreciate the way light coming in from the windows reflects off the water. Gentle ripples stem from bodies in the pool, creating an ever-changing pattern on the surface. Simple movement. Resounding giggles. The repetition of a lap swimmer, going back and forth... back and forth.

Familiar, yet always different.

I love it.

Lifeguarding truly is a significant facet of my life. True, it can be boring at times. And I don't have the most 'on top of things' supervisor or tidy and careful co-workers... But I do attempt to make the best of things.

I am blessed.