Rejuvenating body and spirit
There’s nothing like soaking in the invigorating waters of a river to refresh the soul.
ONE of my favourite places in Malaysia is just 40 minutes’ drive from my home. It is a most beautiful, tranquil spot along a river in Gombak.
Hutan Lipur Sungai Tua, a recreational forest, sits on the right side of the road as you travel from Sungai Tua towards Ulu Yam. It is a familyfriendly resort, and the river is smooth flowing and shallow in most parts.
When my boys were young, my family would bundle into our van on a whim and drive there for an afternoon to soak in the cool waters.
The journey there wound past Batu Caves and stretches of picturesque countryside, including breathtaking views of the Batu Dam.
Once we arrived, we’d waste no time clambering over the rocks and immersing ourselves in the river. No matter what cares we grown-ups had earlier, they would melt away as the chilled waters swirled over our bodies and refreshed our souls.
Two weeks ago, I felt such a strong urge to sit in the river that I headed there – some 20 years after my last visit.
It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. My doctor had told me that to overcome fatigue from my on-going treatment, I should keep myself active.
It didn’t take me long to find the same spot we had gone to all those years ago. The place had matured well, with well maintained facilities and litter-free river banks lined with shady trees.
I waded in, rested on the shallow riverbed, and allowed the refreshing stream to invigorate me, body and spirit. The gushing waters rejuvenated my mind and my thoughts.
The fun part of the lazy afternoon was lying against the low rock falls to enjoy a natural jacuzzi in the heart of nature.
As I made my way downstream through gentle currents, memories flooded my mind of times when I enjoyed this retreat from the urban jungle with family and good friends. Some were surprised that I had ventured into such an experience just soon after a hospital stay, and days before I resumed chemotherapy.
But I believe every patient is unique, and every journey is different. There is no set way to navigate through the ups and downs of such a journey and sometimes we just need to follow our instincts.
Soaking in a river is therapeutic for me. For those few hours, I really felt good and satisfied to be in commune with nature and with my Creator.
Life is much like that. Worries and cares build up, often without us even being conscious of the strain they place on us. We need to have “streams of living water” run through our lives regularly to cleanse our souls.
When the dust and grime of life has been washed away, and our emotional tanks are refilled and spirits revived, we are able to face dayto-day challenges squarely once more.