PUTTING WATER IN SOMEONE'S RIVER

Putting Water in Someone's River.

 

Many years ago one of my favourite teachers said that life was like a river and that we were all in our own little boat trying to make our way up or down stream. It wasn't an especially original or challenging concept, but I loved what he went on to say,

 

'It's very flippin hard to paddle along the river when someone keeps taking water out of it... so be the kind of person that puts water in someone's river, not the kind that takes it out.'

 

I had intended to write a bit about this, but you know, it's pretty self explanatory. This idea becomes a practical tool if we use it as a touchstone to assess our thoughts, words and actions and especially our motivation for them.

Putting water in someone elses river is a great way to soothe and nurture them and ourselves.

 

It seems to me that the Prayer of St Francis gives a great set of guidelines for putting water in someone's river:

  

     

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is discord, harmony;

Where there is error, truth;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

 

That's all for today. Thanks for looking in and love and light to you all.

Rex