Standing by the River (9/25/2023)

Recently, on a visit to Iowa, I stayed at a hotel right on the Missouri River. I spent hours watching the river roll by, constantly flowing, constantly stirring. And I recalled the famous expression, “One can never step in the same river twice.” The river like us, like our world, is constantly changing. As I stood and watched, I wondered if I was changing for the good.

Seriously, as long as I live, I will be changing. Some I do not will such as aging. But many of the changes are because of my decisions, my choices. Am I changing for the good? Am I becoming more like the one the Father Almighty created me to be? Am I becoming more like the disciple Christ calls me to be? Am I becoming more of a presence for the LORD as the Spirit seeks to conform me to be?

As I stood watching that great river flow by at such a great speed, I found myself praying to the LORD about myself, who I am today, and who I long to be. I pleaded with the LORD to help me in my journey. Like that great river, I am moving always. I prayed that my movement, my journey, would bring me ever closer to the LORD and to the person I am created to be, called to be, graced to be. And as I stood there in prayer, I felt stirred like the eddies in that great river. And I know I am not making this journey alone.

May our journeys in this life be stirred by the Spirit. May our hearts be open to the LORD’s movement. May our wills strongly lead us to move always in the right direction, nearer to the LORD.

Every day, every moment of every day, we are changing. May the changes bring us closer to the LORD and to ourselves, the ones we were created to be.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.