Tag Archives: river runs through it

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

The River. It’s a metaphor. And a comparison. And a guide. Or a guard. Or even an obstacle. But the River runs. And you can never catch it. So, walk by it. Sit next to it. Listen to its monologue as it strokes the shores and slips through the landscape.

The River runs through life.

And it makes it way into and through the woven fabrics of human existence. But whether or not it leaves a mark depends on the individual. Because the river is not a spirit. Despite how I might have made it sound so far. And it’s not a living entity.

It’s a home for living creatures. And it even provides for transportation of even the most complex living creatures. But, when you get right down to it, it’s still just water. Blue. Black. Brown. Green. And even hints of silver. Water. Beckoning, burdensome water.

But the Living Water. Now, THAT’S a whole ‘nother story.

You want a drink of Water that quenches right down to your very soul? Living Water. And you want a refreshing glass of hope? Living Water.

Trouble is (if you’re compelled to call it that) Living Water comes with a catch.

You want the promises of refreshment from the Living Water, then you gotta give up the notion that you’re the source of life. And you gotta give up the idea that hope flow from YOU. Because you are a finite feeder. A terminable tributary. And a satellite stream who needs a connection to where the river runs.

And that connection is your humble admission that God IS real, you’re not Him, and your life should be in His good hands.

Take a drink from the soul-saving Living Water before you go…

Down The River

Down the river there’s a ripple and a wake
That doesn’t seem to end like it does in a lake.
It doesn’t need a storm or a deep earthquake
To shimmer and shudder and shiver and shake.

Down the river there’s a mile-high sky
That changes real fast as the rocks roll by.
It doesn’t share a smile or a mournful sigh.
It darkens and lightens and closes one eye.

Down the river there’s a story to tell
That a few old-timers and their dogs know well.
A tale of woe when the river did swell…
And sent all the rafters to Heaven or Hell.

Down the river, where the rapids break free,
Is a place you’ll be glad that you got to see.
It’s where you’ll decide if you ever will be
Back down the river to the landing tree.

© 2014

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I watched a video, yesterday, of a couple who were enjoying a walk through Clifton, Colorado. It’s more or less an extension of Grand Junction. And it sits between that city and Palisade, Colorado. (side note: if you’ve never had Palisade peaches, your life is not complete) The couple videoed the view as they talked about what they were enjoying along the way. They mentioned the Colorado River, which runs by those towns.

And I remembered a view of the Colorado River on Google maps.

But it’s not just a snapshot of the river. The view I’m talking about is a video of the “street view.” And I guess, when you think about it, rivers are kinda like streets. One-way streets, mostly, but they certainly get their share of traffic. Especially when they offer the exhilaration of challenging rapids.

Anyway…

The Google maps “street view” gives you the opportunity to challenge those rapids without ever getting your feet wet. I haven’t checked, lately, to see if Google still offers that view. But about eight years ago I shared the video that someone posted on YouTube. And I’ll share it with you, again, at the link below. But first, this river rhyme…

Down The River

Down the river there’s a ripple and a wake
That doesn’t seem to end like it does in a lake.
It doesn’t need a storm or a deep earthquake
To shimmer and shudder and shiver and shake.

Down the river there’s a mile-high sky
That changes real fast as the rocks roll by.
It doesn’t share a smile or a mournful sigh.
It darkens and lightens and closes one eye.

Down the river there’s a story to tell
That a few old-timers and their dogs know well.
A tale of woe when the river did swell…
And sent all the rafters to Heaven or Hell.

Down the river, where the rapids break free,
Is a place you’ll be glad that you got to see.
It’s where you’ll decide if you ever will be
Back down the river to the landing tree.

© 2014 Tony Funderburk

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