Streams of Mercy

A river has always been a helpful metaphor for me in reflecting on life. In Church Officer Training classes, I always include a worksheet showing a river flowing, a helpful metaphor to get us to thinking about our journeys of life and faith. Numerous streams flow into the river and others flow out. The river is our life, coming from God and going where it will. The numerous streams flowing in and out are people, ideas and life experiences that come and go, adding to and taking from the river of our lives. We talk about how the river overflows in some seasons, and dwindles to a trickle in others.

While watching the Kennedy Center Honors program last evening, I heard a special song. It was new to me and I was careful to look up the lyrics so I wouldn’t miss a thing. Garth Brooks wrote the song in 1991- my first year in ministry, so maybe that’s why I missed it! It’s about chasing your dreams and never giving up on what you believe in. We’re reminded that life is shorter than we think, and if we just stand on the shore watching the river go by, then life will be gone before we have a chance to live it.

Brooks uses the metaphor of a person’s life being a vessel, moving through life, trying to reach their dreams. He says that a dream is like a river, changing, depending on what life brings. Each person has a dream, but when the river gets rough and life is hard, a lot of people put their dreams aside. Brooks says that he will sail his vessel until the river runs dry, that he will always chase his dreams until his life is over. If we don’t follow our dreams we never have a chance to experience the life we really want to live.

I’m so thankful this song found me! It’s lyrics are an inspiration to me, even in my 73rd year! Here are those special lyrics:

“The River”

You know a dream is like a river

Ever changin’ as it flows

And a dreamer’s just a vessel

That must follow where it goes

Trying to learn from what’s behind you

And never knowing what’s in store

Makes each day a constant battle

Just to stay between the shores … and

Chorus

I will sail my vessel

‘Til the river runs dry

Like a bird upon the wind

These waters are my sky

I’ll never reach my destination

if I never try

So I will sail my vessel,

“Til the river runs dry

Too many times we stand aside

And let the waters slip away

‘Til what we put off ‘til tomorrow

Has now become today

So don’t you sit upon the shoreline

And say you’re satisfied

Choose to chance the rapids

And dare to dance the tide … yes

Chorus

There’s bound to be rough waters

And I know I’ll take some falls

But with the good Lord as my captain

I can make it through them all …yes

Chorus

Yes, I will sail my vessel

Til the river runs dry

‘Til the river runs dry.

So grateful for river of my life, and thankful for those streams of mercy, flowing in and out and all around, evermore.

Elizabeth