Have you ever noticed the current of a river- how swiftly it moves? Have you ever stopped to look up and notice the clouds and how gently, yet softly, they glide across the sky? I was wondering in watching the current of the lake this morning; where it was going, what was its final destination, and why did it seem to be in such a hurry? As I sit here and watch the birds soar above the water, they are continually moving, never landing or staying in one place very long; even the squirrels on the deck gather their food and move on. If the water stopped, the clouds stood still, the birds and squirrels stayed in one place- it would seem as though life had stopped completely. There seems to be power and strength in movement.
Sitting here watching out the window as the current pulls the water down river and watching the clouds glide northward, the birds perched on limbs outside the window for only a minute, and the squirrels scampering across the deck with their mouths full- I feel as though I am sitting still. My world- my life- seems so vastly different than the one I am observing. Each day we’ve been here at the river the scene before me seems to stay the same, the sun comes up, the clouds move in and out, the ducks have swimming downstream, the breeze blowing the branches of the trees, the birds soaring back and forth- never landing for very long, squirrels daily gathering their food, and each night the moon reflecting off the river.
Each day seeming the same, but life on the other hand, is always changing- sometimes for the good and sometimes not. The days seem to move as swiftly as the current of the river. At times I wish I could stop the forward motion of time, reflect on the moment, or even go back to perhaps relive just one day. If I could relive just one day, what day would it be? Would it be the day I was born, the day I turned 13 or 16? Would it be the day I met Mark, the day we got married, the birth of our daughters, or would it be the day I was saved? Like the current of the river that never returns to where it came from, we cannot go back and relive our lives. The river’s current directs the waters; it cannot determine for itself what direction it will go. At one time, I had determined what direction I would go when God decided to redirect my life.
The Father has had me on a path forward- never to return to where I was. Nature seems to accept each day, knowing why it was created and its purpose. Each day the sun, the moon, the river, the clouds- all fulfill their God created purpose. When life is interrupted we can often lose sight of why we were created- our purpose. What is God’s divine plan in all of this- in my life?
If God were to turn the current of the river, I wonder what the ducks would do. This morning I was watching 6 ducks swim upstream; they make it look so effortless. All the other mornings the ducks have swum downstream, staying with the current. But today these 6 little guys are going against the flow of the river. In these last five years, God has changed the direction of my life- where once I was going with the current- I am now swimming against the current. At times I want to turn and go with the flow; it would be so much easier. All my friends and family are riding the current downstream- all going in the same direction, and here I am paddling with all my might upstream. These six little guys appear to be making little effort from atop the water, but I know underneath they are paddling like crazy. Seems as though they will tire soon; I tire quite often.
God has not chosen to change the current or the flow of my river. But, in the process of these five years, He has changed me! I must keep paddling. I’m not sure where I’m headed, or what it is I’m to do when I get there, but I know the direction I’m headed is the one He has chosen for me- up river- against the flow!
In so many ways it would have been so much easier to go with the current, for my life to look like everyone around me. Through pain, heartache and intense paddling, God has taught me much. I don’t look like the other ducks! I’m not better than the others or superior because I’ve been paddling upstream- I’m just different, like the six I saw this morning going against the flow, fighting hard to get to their destination. Going against the current builds muscle and stamina; God has strengthened my spiritual muscle and given me spiritual stamina.
Now that I have experienced a daily swim going upstream, I wonder if I could ever rejoin all the other ducks going downstream. At times my flesh desires downstream, but my heart is set on going upstream- against the current. I must keep paddling, for in the paddling I am gaining power and strength- His!
“For the Lord knows the way of the righteous.” Psalm 1:6
“You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures evermore.” Psalm 16:11
“Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in holy array. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the glory of the Lord thunders, The Lord is over all the waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.” Psalm 29:1-4, 11
Dianne