Lessons from Rivers

How their spiritual flow has changed my worldview and life.

Image created by the author on Jasper Art.

“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world’s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. — -Norman Maclean from A River Runs Through it.

Growing up
amid the creeks and mountains of Vermont,
I have come to know
a thing or two about rivers.

I love the fact that rivers do not think.
They do not fight themselves.
They do not try to mold
into something
they are not destined to be.

They do not plead.
They do not beg.
They do not analyze.
They do not label.

They. Just. Are.

Rivers do not fear the bends
force trajectories,
or go against
their own currents.

No. Rivers just flow.