The River
The river flows at my feet
I watch as it goes past
Where is all that water going?
It looks so inviting…
The current flows steadily
I feel as though if I jumped in I could float
Should I jump or stay on shore?
The shore is safe and dry
I decide to go to the edge and get a closer look
I poke my toe in
The water feels so….clean and fresh
I’m afraid, after all I can’t swim
But something is compelling me
I wade in…there’s rocks on the bottom
Some are sharp and jagged
They hurt, but I keep going
I’m up to my knees
I look up just in time to see some friends floating by
“Just jump!” they yell
“Come on….jump!”
Jump!? Me? I’m AFRAID
I can’t swim….I don’t know where I’ll end up…maybe I’ll drown
There go more friends.”
“Come on….JUMP!”
“Don’t be afraid”
OK
1….2….3
I jump
The current grabs me
I’m washed away….going so fast everything is in a whirl
I feel dizzy
My head is spinning, but I’m staying a float
I can barely breathe
This is the most exciting journey I have ever been on
I’m scared, but I feel peace….I don’t understand it
Things look so differently in the river than they do on shore
Colors seem more vibrant
The air is cleaner
The son shines more brightly here
Some parts of the river are treacherous cause the current runs so swiftly
But I’m not alone
Others are floating with me
Just when I think I’m going under….
I feel a hand pull me up so I can take a deep breath
I hear a still small voice
It speaks peace to me
“Never alone”
I’ve been in the river for a while now
Some days flow so smoothly, quietly, serenely
BUT WATCH OUT
There are branches that stick out from shore
They’ll grab you as you float by
They want to entangle you
They are trying to pull you back to shore
They seem so tempting
After all, the shore is dry and safe
So tempting….so tempting….so tempting
GOD PLEASE
PLEASE HELP ME
Get me off these branches
I want back in the river
The river is teeming with life
The shore holds darkness and despair
But sometimes it seems so much easier…
Copyright © Elizabeth Schlicht | Year Posted 2007
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