"In the ever-shifting water
of the river of this life
I was swimming, seeking comfort;
I was wrestling waves to find
A boulder I could cling to,
a stone to hold me fast
Where I might let the fretful water
of this river 'round me pass
And so I found an anchor,
a blessed resting place
A trusty rock I called my savior,
for there I would be safe
From the river and its dangers,
and I proclaimed my rock divine
And I prayed to it "protect me"
and the rock replied:
God is a river, not just a stone
God is a wild, raging rapids
And a slow, meandering flow
God is a deep and narrow passage
And a peaceful, sandy shoal
God is the river, swimmer
So let go
Still I clung to my rock tightly
with conviction in my arms
Never looking at the stream
to keep my mind from thoughts of harm
But the river kept on coming,
kept on tugging at my legs
Till at last my fingers faltered,
and I was swept away
So I'm going with the flow now,
these relentless twists and bends
Acclimating to the motion,
and a sense of being led
And this river's like my body now,
it carries me along
Through the ever-changing scenes
and by the rocks that sing this song
God is a river, not just a stone
God is a wild, raging rapids
And a slow, meandering flow
God is a deep and narrow passage
And a peaceful, sandy shoal
God is the river, swimmer
So let go
God is the river, swimmer
So let go ..."
- Peter Mayer
Sometimes you think a song just says it all...until an angel comes along, all dressed in stripey leggings and short skirts, sassy dresses and western boots...and she leaves a poem on your pillow to sing you to sleep while you dream along the river's edge, Sam Hopple wrote this poem, and sent it along today. I am so grateful she was willing to let me share her beautiful words:
she breathes in the water of the arkansas valley
flowing with the current over mossed rocks and sleeping boulders
her path is sometimes met by churning and sharp wavelengths
slamming her to shore and caking her with mud
a strong faith calls her to dive back head first
and the moment she arrives in the space of a placid eddie
she is peaceful
down the stream she dances
gliding in perfect rhythm to the beat of the stream
a melody shines forth
and she joins the chorus...
like a river song....
I have nothing to add to this...it is practically perfect in every way...
Kissing your eyelids goonight...sweet dreams in London town Miss Samantha Demarest King Hopple. The River and the Valley are waiting for you to fly in from the East on the angel wings you discovered in a little shoppe on Carnaby Street.Your mommy and daddy would be so proud of you, and your devotion to all that they stand for...goodness, faith, strength in adversity, peace in a storm, children on horses, in cabins, rafts...and the River...oh, how they love that River!!
thank you for honoring me with your words,
mum
Kate Robertson, CS
Another friend suggested that I include this link to,"God is a River...let go"a post written in 2007 about Peter Mayer's amazing song.
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