Faith | Pause to reflect on the ‘river’ that runs through you
Today is the 115th anniversary of my grandmother’s birthday. While she has been in glory for nearly 25 years, the annual date encourages remembrances and tributes by my extended family about our shared matriarch.
As I write this while sitting at the Oregon Coast, emails are zipping back and forth as we recall unforgettable impacts on our lives by her words and deeds. Even scoldings (for my brother, not me of course) mellow in the faded yet warm light of affectionate history.
To this day, Grandma was and is a remarkable influence. I feel profoundly grateful as I reflect on our tributes, tributaries, and contributions.
Now in the city of Vancouver, Wash., just above the mighty Columbia River, is a remarkable experiential sculpture. Using piles of rocks set along a wet/dry “riverbed,” the primary tributaries of the Columbia from across the greater Pacific Northwest are illustrated and demonstrated.
In sum, its watery lifeblood starts as a tiny stream in the Rockies of southern British Columbia and then wends and winds its way southwest through Washington state, pushed and pulled by massive geologic and hydrologic forces, growing and growing from successive tributaries before turning due west at the Oregon border and heading nearly straight for the Pacific Ocean, with one final large jog in its course after exiting the Cascade Range. Even after spilling into the ocean, its power and volume cut a deep trough far out under the waves.
“Roll on, Columbia” … roll on indeed!
If each life is a river, then that river is conceived, nourished, and guided by significant tributaries.
Like you, I name so many who have contributed to my life in formation, character, direction, correction, inspiration, companionship, and community. It takes many tributaries to make a river from a stream. My grandmother is but one of mine.
Who are some of yours?
You may recall similar tributaries like grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins, friends, classmates, teammates, neighbors, church folks, coaches, and teachers. Ideally each smaller stream contributes fresh, life-enhancing water to our expanding sense of self.
Of course, not all streams are the same: some larger, some smaller, some barely noticed but still evident. Some ease into our waters gently with barely a ripple, others come crashing in, stirring up gravel and sediment
Over time and our travels, capacities grow, courses wend and wind through valleys and coulees. A roaring cascade of foam here. A placid glassy pool of calm there.
Rivers pass through mountains, forests, plains, and deserts. They are crossed by bridges and occasionally dammed up (for better or worse—but that’s another discussion). So too are our lives traversed by others without impeding our flow, but occasionally slowed and backed up, creating wholly new features and functions.
Rivers, like lives, are ever-present.
Thus, it is important to know and understand your life-blood — your sources and tributaries, your courses and impacts, and how you contribute to the life-rivers of countless others. May you roll on, blessed with vitality, grace, and peace.
(Happy birthday, Grandma!)
“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:5 (NIV)
Timothy J. Ledbetter, DMin, BCC is a retired American Baptist-endorsed professional chaplain and member of Shalom United Church of Christ in Richland. Questions and comments should be directed to editor Lucy Luginbill in care of the Tri-City Herald newsroom, 4253 W. 24th Avenue, Kennewick, WA 99338. Or email lluginbill@tricityherald.com.