Taking Our Place for the New Year

 YOU DON'T NEED TO PUSH THE RIVER,

 BECAUSE YOU ARE ALREADY IN THE RIVER.

 GOD'S LIFE OF LOVE IS BEING LIVED WITHIN YOU,

 AND YOU MUST SIMPLY LEARN TO SAY YES TO LIFE.

These words from Father Richard Rohr seemed so pertinent,

 I posted them on my facebook page as a start to the new year.

Saying yes to life isn't always that easy of course,

 and to do so we must really trust that "life" knows what it is doing.

  Even for those who know the one who called himself

 the way, the truth, and the life,

there is the deep pull to rely upon oneself when all is said and done. 

 There is always that little voice suggesting,

God helps those who help themselves.

  and
 If I don't get this done who will? 

 Right?

This is the bridge over the river Monnow at Skenfrith

 which sits beside the excellent Bell Inn.

When it was still a quiet country pub,

 the landlord had an old dog who used to suffer greatly when the weather got hot.

  To escape the heat he would wade into the river,

and stand for hours at a time with the water swirling around him,

 just down stream of the central arch of the bridge,

 always facing upstream.

   Always towards the source.

Today, and every day,

we may have little or no time to stand still,

or even give our minds relief from the constant battering of life's demands,

but we can set ourselves to trust,

 and our hearts to rely upon,

 the source of the stream in which,

 and from which,

we all come. 

Take a breath just where you are,

 and know you are held in the stream of life and love which carries us all.


Take frequent breaths throughout your day,
and find that source beyond the pressure of the moment,
 in that one thing for which even now,
 you can say thank you.

Do not be afraid.

Blessings