Swimming Across A Lake

You start off and it doesn't look that far. You see the land... hey, I can do that. I'm young and strong... I have never swum across a lake before... but I think I can handle it. Plus, that land across the lake is really beautiful and you have wanted to go there for so very long. You jump in and start swimming, really swimming... and it feels good. You are moving, headed towards the shore. You can practically feel the sand between your toes as you swim toward your destination. After a while you start to tire, so you try not to think about it. You start to think about other things but are still moving... automatic pilot. You are able to keep your mind busy but all the while you are fighting to keep that nagging pain that is beginning to develop, out of your head. You have been in the water a while now and have come to the realization that there is a pretty strong current. One that was not seen from the shore before you dove in. For every stroke you make you are pushed back three times the distance. You keep swimming... who knows... maybe the current will let up? It doesn't. In fact it gets stronger the longer you are out there. Your head is just bobbing above the water... barely a glimmer of land ahead. You start to panic... will I make it? How long can I go on like this? You keep swimming but slower now... you are getting very tired. Negative thoughts and fears enter your mind and start to circle you like a shark. You are not swimming anymore. You are just being taken by the current. You realize that this lake is a whole lot bigger than you thought it was. The sliver of land in front of you has long disappeared. You begin to wonder if you are even headed in the right direction.