The Sunday Afternoon Jaunt
At any season, my favorite route home from church is via the Spokane River. It is still my favorite place to meet with God and talk to Him about my thoughts and ideas. Or my troubles. He is always there. I think He enjoys His creation more than I do. Or maybe He knows me best and draws me there just for company?
I think I have posted umpteen dozen photos of the river. But, in my defense, it looks different with every season, right?
The water was drawn down at the Nine Mile Dam this autumn. It sure changes the river’s course. It’s several feet shallower in many areas. In places it seems to be flowing between an outline. And I suppose it is—an outline of rocks.
Transparency
Further downriver is the Take-Out at Seven Mile. In the summer, lots of floats, kayaks and swimmers fill the area. But today it was quiet. When the clouds parted to reveal the sun briefly, I was surprised to find that I could see beneath the surface of the water to the rocky bed. In fact, I could see the rocks all the way across to the opposite bank. Usually the water flows too deep or fast to see the bed of the river at all, much less all the way across.
I could even see the depth. I could not judge how deep, though, and I would not want to try walking across. The currents still crisscrossed each other. Even that was now visible.
Riptides
Finally, the riptides from all directions swirled around between the rocks and the banks. When the waters rush furiously in the spring and early summer, these dangerous tides cannot be seen. But today I could see them. In the middle of the swirls there is an underwater shelf that causes the waters to divide the riptides right down the middle. That must be a wild ride in summer!
Contemplation
I stood on the bank, musing. Isn’t that the way it is? We look at the scenery around our lives, or the lives of others and accept what we see.
When the waters flow fast and deep, we don’t always see into our souls. Or the souls of others. We just see the surface waters and deal with the wakes they put out. Sometimes the waters overflow the banks and we deal with the mess. Do we look at the complexities underneath?
When the waters are drawn down, the rocks and crosscurrents become visible.
The Lifeline
God is ever present. All the rocks and crosscurrents are wholly visible to Him. He is not surprised or swamped with the depths that are enormous to us. Not ever. After all, He created us. He is our Lifeline. He will always keep our heads above water and our feet kicking in rhythm.
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