July 22, 2013 (Monday)
The Lewis and Clark expedition was a landmark event of American history. They explored the Missouri River all the way to its source in the Rocky Mountains. The trip was long and hard and was against the strong current all the way. Going over the mountains was difficult as well. But when they got to the Columbia River, their dugout canoes had an easy time “going with the flow” because the river flowed westward from the mountains.
Sometimes life resembles the mighty Missouri, fighting us all the way. At other times it’s like the Columbia, full of life, bubbly and carrying us along with it.
What kind of river are you on today?
On the return trip, the conditions reversed. They had to fight to make it up the Columbia, but when they got to the Missouri, it was “go with the flow.”
It’s very clear to us that the two rivers were favorable sometimes and unfavorable at other times. But it’s not so clear in our lives as to why sometimes “the livin’ is easy” and at other times nothing seems to go our way.
Let’s not forget the lesson in the book of Job. When he tried to understand his troubles, he was reminded by God that he was to humble himself. No matter what is happening in our lives, God is God and we are to worship Him. Upstream or downstream, He is God.
He says to each of us, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).