If you have never been canoeing, one thing you need to know is that it is an exercise in teamwork. It takes a lot of cooperation to keep a canoe going straight in the water. It also takes a lot of cooperation between the two rowers to negotiate a tight turn or narrow passage or rapid waters.
In addition to good teamwork, it takes a lot of commitment. If either rower gives up and does not do his/her part, the rowing effort becomes more difficult for the one who is left doing the rowing. The canoe is harder to turn; harder to get moving again from a standstill and also harder to keep going straight.
Teamwork in canoeing is not unlike the teamwork it takes to keep a good marriage moving ahead. Each spouse must take up his/her part of the teamwork and do what's necessary to keep the marriage going straight. If either slacks off or refuses to do his/her part, the couple will veer off course. They will not be able to navigate the tight twisting turns that life has and the marriage will eventually run aground to certain disaster.
While it is true we are all human and we make mistakes, we also must take responsibility for our actions or lack thereof, and make the corrections necessary to make the course corrections a marriage needs to be set aright.
God promises to direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5 & 6) and give us the direction we need to get things back on track. We only need to trust Him with all our heart, not lean on what we understand, and have the faith to follow what He directs us to do.
