Swimming in The River … ( 05 / 24 / 2012 )
Swimming in The River … ( 05 / 24 / 2012 )
“ There is a river flowing now very fast — so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid . They will try to hold onto the shore . They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly . We must come to understand that the river has its own destination , one that will not be swayed . And so we must let go of the shore . We must push off into the middle of the river , while keeping our eyes fully open and our heads above water . And then , we must remember to look around and see who is in there with us … and celebrate .” ~ Hopi Prayer
Though there is only one River , within it flows channels infinite — each one flowing ultimately to the same sea ; the Sea of Peace … And yet to know this Peace , swim the River you must . It is not enough to stand on the banks and admire its crashing rapids … It is not enough to sit and wonder what awaits those who brave its waters … It is not enough to merely dip your foot in its coolness ; and it is even not enough to wade in up to your neck and then return to shore . No , in order for us to receive the River ’ s priceless gift , we must give It our lives — we must give it everything .
Yes , for the River to carry you where you need to go , you must abandon all hope and dive completely in … You must release all fears and swim to the middle … You must let go of all that you desire and let the current take you where it will . This River isn ’ t “ success ”, nor is it “ salvation ” or even “ happiness ” … The River is Caring for the uncaring , forgiving the unforgivable and being Kind to strangers … The River is serving our enemies and giving to our communities , especially when we have almost nothing left to give . The River , my Friends , is LOVE …
Its waters may seem cold at first , and its rapids may seem deadly , and yet it is the only way Home , and it waits to carry you there …
LOVE is the River , my Friends — so dive in !
“ The place God calls you to is where your deep gladness and the world ’ s deep hunger meet .” ~ Frederick Buechner
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