Book excerpt: One Man, One Canoe, Nineteen Friends, One Majestic River! Pass the Paddle: Mississippi Dreamin’ Come Hell or High Water is Jerry Schumm’s (aka the Paddlin’ Pastor) memoir of his journey down the Mississippi River. It was an excursion like no other. Jerry never paddled alone. Friends and family members signed up for “legs” of the river. A ceremonial paddle was passed from one canoeist to the next—a giant relay. For fellow adventurers, the book provides a day-by-day documentation of the Mississippi River voyage from the headwaters at Lake Itasca to New Orleans. It also is the story of family, friendship, spirituality, and the goodness of folks met along the way. More importantly, it is the tale of a man who has the qualities needed to actualize a life-long dream: positive attitude, persistence, and patience.