The Gambian River at sunset as it makes its way east to The Atlantic Ocean.

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I am most alive
When I let go into flow.
Still, some rocks are hard.
~ bjs

In these difficult times – that appear will become even more difficult as we go along – my tendency is to defend myself, to resist what is happening even though I have no control. The metaphor of the river offers me solace and other ways of being.

Bassett Creek flows into the Mississippi River then south
to The Gulf of Mexico and The Atlantic Ocean.
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The Way 1: Taoist philosophy. The Tao “generally signifies the natural way of the universe, a flow, or a principle that underlies all existence. It’s not a static entity but rather a dynamic process, often described as a path or The Way.” 

The most sacred text of Taoism is the Tao Te Ching which translates to “Book of The Way and Its Power.” The fundamental message is about the value of living in harmony with the natural world.

Pushing or pulling
Against the whole universe
Is quite exhausting.
~ bjs

A day trip on the Rhine River as it journeys north to The North Sea and The Atlantic Ocean.

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The way 2: Route or direction. The way a river flows is a metaphor for daily life: calm, white water, eddies, upstream, downstream…. 

Most of the world’s rivers eventually join an ocean. For example, many rivers merge with the Mississippi River on its journey south. All of those waters join the ocean via the Mississippi Delta in Louisiana. When a river joins another river and, eventually an ocean, the waters lose their individual identity but not their eternal essence.

Depending on location and gravity, rivers join the oceans in all directions: north to the Arctic Ocean and east, west or south to the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.

All rivers flow to
The ocean and the ocean
Welcomes all rivers.
~ bjs

Sailing on The Nile River as it flows north to The Mediterranean Sea and The Atlantic Ocean.
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The way 3: Method or manner. I appreciate the way a river teaches us about change and flow as well as softness and strength. 

If I visit the ‘same’ river every day, its flow may look similar but it is actually a different river. And I am a different person. As is said, Change is the only constant.

There is such a softness about rivers. The water always makes room for us (unless it is frozen). And it is soothing, embracing, forgiving. It does not resist us or itself.

The river surrenders to The Way. The harmonic flow of its existence is the path of least resistance. That is its strength. Along with its power and patience.

Gently flowing waters
Wear away millions of years
Of stable, hard rock.
~ bjs

The Ganges River at sunrise on its way east to The Bay of Bengal and The Indian Ocean.
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The metaphor of the river teaches us many ‘ways’ relevant to our choices for happiness or suffering during our earthly journeys. And from multiple perspectives: We can be the river, we can be in the river, we can be on the river, we can be off the river as observers on the riverbank.

Like life, the river offers many challenges.
Some are expected and others are a surprise.
We seek to navigate its eddies, floods, whitewater….

In learning to swim in the river, we harmonize with it.
We float. We look forward to what’s around the bend.
We rest on the banks. We even swim for the fun of it.

When at our best, we work with the river.
We give our gifts. We are sunlight on water.
We reshape the world one day at a time.

Resisting or swimming upstream is futile.
Thus, we surrender to The Way.
For we know that, with the joy that is flow,
The river eventually joins the ocean.
~ bjs

I was going-on-three when I stood beside my father as we watched
The Mississippi River begin its journey from Lake Itasca in
northern Minnesota to The Gulf of Mexico and The Atlantic Ocean.