The Brick Test

I really enjoyed working as a lifeguard over the summer, but I have a new found appreciation for the lifeguards all around the world. Being a lifeguard is not easy. People constantly ask you questions, you sit in the 100 degree weather all day (in the direct sun), and you have to be constantly ready to jump in and save a life at any given moment. The job requires 8 hours a day of undivided attention. See that 4 year old with a curious look in his eye… over there by the concession stand? I do. And he isn’t wearing a lifejacket. I am pretty proud of myself for sticking with it, despite the fact that I guarded when it was 106 degrees outside. I’m not kidding, my water bottle melted. Melted! And I thought my brain was going to follow suit. Nevertheless, I was determined to guard at an indoor pool during the offseason. I heard Cary Street Gym was hiring, so I made my way over to the VCU Aquatics Center for testing.

My interview was cake. My resume was beautiful. I was overly confident in my cute little red one piece with a white cross on the front when they told us to get in and swim 300 meters. Sure, yeah. Whatever. I finished my laps and hopped out of the pool, awaiting my next task. Now it was time for rescue drills- spinal emergencies, active swimmers, distressed swimmers, passive swimmers. I hit everything right out of the park! I was surprised at how well I was doing. My CPR was flawless, and so were my AED skills. The last test was “the brick test”. The instructor explained that we were to jump in, swim the length of the pool, and find a big water brick that they had thrown in. Once we found it, we needed to position ourselves over the brick and use our arms to submerge ourselves 13 feet. “Once you have done that,” the instructor explained, “you need to grab the brick, swim to the top, and use only your legs to kick the length of the pool with the brick on your chest.” Chyea. Much easier said than done. I had passed this test once, but it was in 6 feet of water, not 13.

Sooo I jumped in, swam the length of the pool, and positioned myself over the brick. I took a deep breath and submerged, pushing myself by sweeping my arms in great upward motions. One push, two pushes, six pushes… surely the brick was near?! I wanted air so badly, but that is when I realized I had yet to feel the bottom of the pool with my feet. The pressure from the deep water was painful. Panicky, I kicked tirelessly for the surface. I came up gulping the cool air as if it were my last chance to breathe before it all went away forever. The chlorine burned my eyes. The other students had come up with their bricks. I was failing. Something I don’t like doing.

“One, two, three!” I thought to myself before taking another huge breath and submerging myself again. I counted my pushes this time. One, two, four, eight. Where was the bottom of the pool!?! Again, I kicked frantically to the surface. This time upset with myself. The other students had kicked the length of the pool and had gotten out. 12 students and the instructor now stood at the other end, watching intently. I was so embarrassed I could cry… I wanted to give up. Surely I had exceeded the time limit by now. But I didn’t want to quit. I thought, “Come ON, Cathy! This is in your head!” and took one last breath. 9 pushes later, I felt as if my lungs were going to collapse. Then- THUNK. I felt my toe hit bottom. I scrambled around the bottom blindly until I felt the brick. It was heavy, but I picked it up and kicked to the top once again. This time, I came up victoriously. I kicked the length of the pool as fast as I could and got out, completely out of breath.

I found out later that I completed the test in 3 minutes and 56 seconds. I swear it felt much longer than that… Sadly, you have to complete it in 1 minute 40 seconds to be considered for the job. My heart dropped when I found out I didn’t make the cut. I left the gym and got into the car where my husband was waiting, where I burst into tears and told him all about my humiliating experience. Afterward I had time to really reflect on that test. The parallels between the brick test and our test here on Earth are astounding. Sometimes, tests can be really hard even when they appear easy in the beginning. We might find ourselves frustrated at the bottom of a pool, unable to achieve our eternal goals. We might find ourselves in pain as we kick as hard as we can, trying to get back to the top. Most often we feel as if we should just give up- especially when we realize we have already fallen short. It is so important that we do not give up. Sometimes, all it takes is one more try! We need to keep in mind that Heavenly Father has a plan for us. I know that all the adversity I endure will give me experience and will work together for my own good! (D&C 122:7)

President Hinckley said, “There are occasionally hard days for each of us. Do not despair. Do not give up. Look for the sunlight through the clouds.”

Look for the sunlight through the clouds, and if all you see is clouds, look for the silver lining… or that stupid water brick.