Editor’s note: This mini-series will explore Christian themes seen through kayaking and canoeing.

For a kayaker, knowing where to begin and end is important. At the moment of launch, nearly everything the kayaker does on the journey is directed toward arriving at the destination.

Two of the biggest questions humans ponder are: “Where am I from?” and “Where am I going?” These questions are not all that different from the questions a kayaker has to ask.

The theological concept of exitus-reditus, which is translated into English as exit and return, answers these deep questions. The thought is that all things come from God (exitus) in creation. In other words, God launches us into existence. A kayaker who is launched onto the river begins their journey; so too with being launched into existence. Also, by differing ways, all things are intended to return to God (reditus). God, through the person of Jesus Christ, came to help us return back to the Creator. Remember, Jesus shared that there is greater rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner than over ninety-nine righteous. Recall the story of the Prodigal Son where the father runs out to meet his son who was lost but has been found. It is the reditus, or the return, that is of utmost importance.

Jesus, in his famous Sermon on the Mount, preached, “Seek first the kingdom of God.” In other words, Jesus is saying that the destination site is Heaven. As a kayaker intends every stroke of the paddle to help themselves and others reach the destination, so too should we intend every action, thought, and word toward seeking Heaven and helping others to do so as well.

Luke Daghir is a seminarian for the Diocese of Erie. He is with St. Joseph Parish for his summer mission. He enjoys kayaking and canoeing while seeing the beauty of nature. His column appears every other week.