We Are Rivers....

I have been reading M. Catherine Thomas’ Light in the Wilderness.  I won’t go into how much I love her writings and how they inspire me (They do!:)   She writes of many things, one being how negative experiences, thoughts, energy and our acceptance of them and unwillingness to let them go and function on a higher plane impedes our progress.  I was thinking about individuals in my life who seem to have negative energy in certain areas and seem to be blind or choose to be blind about certain things, but in other areas they do much good and contribute and have a loving spirit with them.  This really applies to all of us to some degree.  I began to see this concept in imagery.  Our lives are rivers of light, growth, progress.  Negative experiences and thoughts whether originating in ourselves or others, if we hold on to them, become like rocks and boulders thrown into the river.  They cause turbulence and make our journey rougher and more difficult.  If too many obstacles accumulate they dam our progress in that area and the turmoil can spill over into other parts of life.  We can allow our rivers to become more and more dammed (the adversary of our souls is always willing and ready to block the way) or we can use the grace and atonement of the Savior to remove the rocks, the boulders, the splintered branches that snag debris and retain it in our souls.  The teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ, (forgiveness, long-suffering, repentance, humility) if we adhere to them and practice them with real intent, clear the way.  If we desire it fully enough, the river truly can run peaceful and clear.   

When we are honest with ourselves we see that at times we don’t want to remove the boulders and debris.  We have become comfortable with them and we leave them there because they serve a purpose of self-deception.  They allow us to blame others for our unwillingness to change and repent ourselves.  There lays within us a reluctance to let go of grievances, offenses, hurts, disappointments for to do so would require that we ourselves have to step up to a higher plane.  Our uncomfortable but familiar little dams in the river (though they cause pain and distress) give us excuses for our own unwillingness to progress.  They conveniently disguise our own weaknesses and faults by pointing a finger at circumstance brought on by the choices of others.  

Having said that, I recognize that all of this is the purpose of life.  We are here to learn by experience to know the good from the evil, the productive from the non-productive, joy from misery.  It's all a journey and we are all in it together.