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5.31.2004
Enjoying
the River of Life
This weekend
we went canoeing/kayaking down the mighty Penns Creek with my brother-in-law,
sister-in-law, and niece. As we enjoyed an absolutely perfect day
afloat, I could not help but think about this popular metaphor:
life is like a river. So, of course, I must share my interpretation
of the metaphor and the lessons I’ve learned from thinking
about it.
Life is like
a river…
Life is like
a river…
It never
stops
We just
flow into
Something
bigger eventually
We may
be transformed along the way
But the
essence of our being remains
We are
meant to flow and float along peacefully
But sometimes
even our best intentions get in the way
Life is like
a river…
We all
want to stay dry
We definitely
don’t want to be immersed
Others
splash us
Sometimes
we do it ourselves accidentally
We may
have creative ways to keep from getting wet
But no
matter how hard we try
We will
all get wet!
Life is like
a river…
There
are many choices to be made
Sometimes
we make good choices
And the
ride is smooth
Sometimes
we make risky choices
And the
ride is treacherous
Sometimes
we make bad choices
And have
to carry the boat
Life is like
a river…
We can’t
always see where we are going
Until
it is too late
Sometimes
we can rely on our knowledge
To choose
the best channel
Sometimes
our past helps us
Make this
choice
Most of
the time the best we can do
Is float
along hope-fully
Life is like
a river…
There
are times we will work hard
To stop
moving toward the dam
We will
paddle upstream
We will
grasp at rocks along the bank
Grab a
tree limb
This may
buy us time,
But eventually
we go over the dam
Or we
have to get out of the boat!
Life is like
a river…
There
is so much beauty all around us
Sometimes
we sit back and relax
And savor
this peace
Sometimes
we get distracted by
An annoying
bug.
Sometimes
we are so busy paddling
We miss
the bald eagle soaring above
Life is like
a river…
When you
can choose
Pick your
boat mates carefully
You might
need a good laugh
You might
need someone to hand you a tissue
You might
need someone to give you a push
You might
need someone to give you a hug
Life is like
a river…
When the
water is calm
We can
immerse ourselves
In the
beauty and peace that surrounds us
We can
hold peace for someone who can’t
We can
bring those who are in troubled waters
To mind
And in
doing so bring peace to them
Life is like
a river…
Try not
to be too busy to stop
And help
someone along the way
The favor
may be returned to you one day
Smile
and wave to those you meet along the journey
Share
your joy and peace
We don’t
lose what we share
We get
it back tenfold
Life is like
a river…
There
are many parties and celebrations
Along
the bank
When you
pick the right ones
To stop
at
You will
enjoy good food, good fellowship
Laughter
and music
This reminds
you of the joy and peace
God wants
you to have
Life is like
a river…
If we
get too focused on our destination
We do
not experience the journey
If we
dwell on how far we have to go
We get
tired and irritable
But even
in the murkiest water,
There
is treasure to be found
A steady
current
Keeps
us moving forward
And if
we appreciate each moment
Incredible
peace settles in our soul
Scripture
“Then the
angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal,
flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb” Revelations
22:1
Quotation
“Love is
the river of life in the world.” –Henry Ward Beecher
“We occasionally
rested in the shade of a maple or a willow, and drew forth a melon
for our refreshment, while we contemplated at our leisure the lapse
of the river and of human life; and as that current, with its floating
twigs and leaves, so did all things pass in review before us, while
far away in cities and marts on this very stream, the old routine
was proceeding still. There is, indeed, a tide in the affairs of
men, as the poet says, and yet as things flow they circulate, and
the ebb always balances the flow. All streams are but tributary
to the ocean, which itself does not stream, and the shores are unchanged,
but in longer periods than man can measure. Go where we will, we
discover infinite change in particulars only, not in generals.”
–Henry David Thoreau
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
thank you for the beauty of the creek and the beauty of life. Thank
you for giving me so many lessons to help me appreciate this journey.
Thank you for keeping me afloat when the water was rough. Thank
you for surrounding me with the love I need to keep afloat. Thank
you for giving me calm water full of peace and joy. Thank you for
peaceful melodies that blend with the sound of water rushing over
rocks allowing my mind to drift far away from this world and into
your loving arms. Amen.
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