The River Flows
by Nancy Pritchard, October, 2008

Recently I was vacationing with a friend in an enchanted setting -- a tropical summer paradise, far, far away in the exotic location of . . .  Okay, I'm exaggerating just a bit.  Actually my good friend Alexandra Windsong and I were on a weekend retreat, renting a small cabin just outside Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. 

In early August, I joined Alex and her faithful canine companion, Max, for a well-needed getaway from the day-to-day grind. All three of us slept poorly Friday night. It stormed for hours that night, complete with plenty of deafening summertime thunder and light-up-the-entire-sky lightning. I learned the next morning that Alex had gotten a far worse night's sleep than I had. Max is terribly afraid of thunderstorms, so he spent the entire night either pacing up and down the hallway or climbing in and out of bed with her. 

Saturday promised to be a bright and glorious day - just as bright and glorious as the night before had been dark and stormy. The rain had dissipated any humidity in the air and the sun was shining brilliantly. I decided to take my journal down to the bank of the Cacapon River to spend some time in silent contemplation there. Being a big fan of the Tao Te Ching, I'm aware that the Tao advises us to study and learn from nature, and water is the natural element that the Tao references more than any other.

And so, you may wonder, what can a grown woman possibly learn by sitting on a tree stump, staring silently at a river all morning long?   

Amazing things. Truly amazing things!

"It's lovely here beside the river." I recorded in my journal. "I need to do more of this in my life. Meditative activities help to bring us back to ourselves. There is no focus on
day-to-day concerns while I am here in this space. No focus on money, laundry, work, chores, life, death . . .  I'm just here - now. I am so calm here by the river. I am so totally at peace."

How often do we allow events and world news to destroy our peace and composure? And at what cost? The constant clamor of our modern world can become truly absurd. All that noise from so many sources, constantly begging for our attention.  My home phone rings…my cell phone rings…my PDA beep, beep, beeps to remind me to hustle to my next meeting or activity. Do it! Do it! Do it! Now!  Now!  Now! 

We need less immediacy in our lives. We need more time to rest beside the river.

Time to think . . . 

     Time to rest . . .

           Time to reflect . . .
   
As I gaze silently at the lovely, sparkling water, I realize that the Tao's advice is brilliant, as always. Nature is indeed overflowing with so much wisdom, if we are only willing to take the time to watch, to listen, to learn. After about 30 minutes of silent contemplation, it suddenly strikes me!  My personal revelation from the river! It's not a new concept perhaps, but it's so significant that I feel as though I've suddenly risen above it all - as though I've managed to grasp one of life's greatest mysteries - as though my perspective will never be quite the same again. 

My message from nature is simple but powerful:

            Time is like the river.  As I watch, the river flows.

The river flows continuously, the way time flows, marking the days, weeks, months, and years of our lives. Like it or not, we've little choice but to let it flow. However, what we choose to do with those precious days that flow by? Ahhh! Now there's something we actually have some control over. Should I continue to have dinner once a week with a group of 'friends' with whom I feel obligated to spend time with, even though their negativity always zaps my energy and brings me down? Should I collapse in front of the television for three hours after a tough day and let one of the 190 channels of my choice (190 channels and there's still nothing on!) take me away? Should I continue to participate as an active member of an organization that no longer adds any value or meaning to my life? 

No, I don't think so. This existence is too precious. Instead, I vow to spend more moments nurturing my soul. 

Time is like the river. As I watch, the river flows.

I vow to spend more time with my family.  I learned the importance of family many years ago from my parents. I appreciate my parents more all the time, even though Dad is no longer here with us. Last weekend my husband and I had the privilege of spending Saturday evening dining out with our own two children. I love spending time with my sons these days. They're 21 and 17 - not my babies anymore. How quickly those years have passed. 

Time is like the river. As I watch, the river flows.

I vow to spend more time surrounded by loving, supportive friends. I recently had dinner with Alexandra, who owns The Healing Way. Nancy Engle and Holly Yokum joined us as well. Nancy, Holly and I have recently joined Alex as part of The Healing Way team. I feel privileged to be part of such a loving, supportive group, working in such a nurturing atmosphere. I'm learning to make wiser friendship choices as I get older. Maybe being middle-aged won't be such a downer after all, which is a very good thing, because time is like the river.

As I watch, the river flows.

I vow to spend more time in solitude - reading inspiring books, meditating, journaling, enjoying nature. A soft breeze is now caressing my skin, the cool river laps at my ankles, and the sun is glistening through the trees and onto the water. Alex is playing her drum softly up on the porch of the cabin now. For a moment I wonder if I'm still a part of twenty-first century life, or have I suddenly been transported away to a more primitive, a simpler place and time?

I vow to spend more time following my heart, as I did this morning, for at this moment, in this time and in this place, I am happy.  Of course we'll always have work, chores, errands and other responsibilities clamoring for our attention, but we mustn't get so caught up in the day-to-day that we forgo the activities that make our spirits soar!

I pray that I will never forget this morning's lesson from the very essence of Mother Nature, because time is indeed like the river.

As I watch, the river flows. 

Nancy Pritchard is the Facilitator for the monthly Tao Study Group, 'Living a Peaceful Life' at The Healing Way. The group meets the first Thursday of each month from 7 - 8 pm. For the date of the group's next meeting, see the online calendar of events.

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