Rushing Waters

This has been a summer of rain.
I wish I had thought about drawing a raindrop on my calendar.
That would give me some idea of just how many days it actually rained here.
There were many days when my plants would not need to be watered.

At the end of my street, near a charming stone wall, there is a creek.
It is a narrow tributary of the Brandywine River.
The narrow creek runs along our neighbor’s property.
I tell him all the time that his landscaping makes me smile as I walk past.

He goes to great lengths to make his property beautiful.
The area by the creek is my favorite part.
On the side of the charming stone wall that is not seen from the road, wisteria grows.
He even has a small, wooden bridge over the creek.

Near the wooden bridge there is a bench that is perfect for sitting.
Next to the bench, he has nets for the neighborhood children so they can catch tadpoles.
On one of my morning walks, he told me that a random person stopped by.
He was working on his yard, and the young man stopped to talk to him.

Would it be OK if I sat here to read every once in a while? He asked sincerely.
It would be fine, my neighbor said and meant it.
The wisteria-covered stone wall, narrow creek, and the welcoming bench called to him.
I have often wondered how many days he came by just to sit for a while.

When the rains are heavy, the narrow creek overflows.
What is usually a gentle sound is now the sound of rushing water.
It is never a problem for our neighbor’s home since the house sits much higher than the creek.
It is just the way of things when it rains.

As I was walking, far from the narrow creek, I heard rushing water.
I was nowhere near the tributary of the Brandywine River.
I was passing houses.
I had no idea from where the sound was coming.

I saw a metal grate.
It was actually near the road but on the person’s grass.
The road goes slightly downhill at this point.
The grate was placed in a perfect position.

All the rainwater, all the run off, naturally flows towards the grate.
I heard the sound I hear when the narrow creek is filled with rainwater.
Right underneath me, in some subterranean place, water was flowing.
I have heard of water tables and groundwater levels but now I was actually hearing it.

A little further down, on the other side of the street, I heard rushing water again.
There was a grate on that side of the street as well.
In some subterranean place, water was flowing.
Water was rushing beneath me while I walked on solid ground.

I thought of a question that was asked years ago in a Bible study.
Two pictures were displayed in front of us.
We were asked to choose the one that exemplified peace.
It seemed like an easy task.

One picture was clearly the answer.
It almost seemed ridiculous that the question was even asked of us.
Who could ever get the wrong answer? I remember thinking smugly.
We all did; we were all wrong and I have never forgotten the lesson I learned.

The obvious answer was the picture of a meadow with grass swaying in the gentle breeze.
You could breathe deep and imagine yourself there.
You could feel the stress pour off your shoulders.
I remember thinking that it was a place I would enjoy.

However, the correct answer was chosen by no one.
The correct answer would not have been my choice at all.
Not at the time.
However, after I heard the reasoning behind it, I understood.

The correct picture was a mother bird sitting on her nest, which rested on a thin branch.
The thin branch was precariously hanging over rushing water.
One crack and the branch along with the mother bird and her babies would fall.
Once in the rushing water, the babies would be lost.

How could this picture possibly exemplify peace?
In the meadow picture, the peace happens when you go to that particular place.
That place enables you to breathe deeper.
That place calms your spirit.

In the bird on the nest picture, peace is present amidst difficult circumstances.
The mother bird sat on her nest on a thin branch over rushing waters.
She was immovable in her task.
No matter what was around her, she sat quietly at rest.

I wanted that kind of peace.
I wanted peace amidst the rushing waters.
I wanted peace even when I was on a thin branch that could collapse at any moment.
I wanted peace in spite of circumstances not because of them.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

The kind of peace that does not depend on circumstances comes only from the Lord Jesus.
His peace is true peace.
His peace is not circumstantial.
His peace is from Him and through Him.

I thought of that peace as I walked past the grates and heard the rushing water beneath me.
I am on solid ground.
I am standing on the Rock, that is Christ.
I have no need to be afraid.

2 responses to “Rushing Waters”

1. What a wonderful way to start my day! So beautifully written.

   Reply

   • Elaine,
     I am delighted that you were blessed!
     Gina

     Reply