The River

There is a river that is God
running through my soul.
It is where I live and move and have my being.

The pulse and flow of my life are found within that river.
The dancing light of my joy,
the solemn depths of my sorrow,
my cherished memories, like varied stones –
all are held safe within that sacred water.

I was born from that river.
In that river I was baptized.
Through that river my sins are washed away.
Within that river I pray.
From the nurturing of that river, I grow.
To that river I will go when I die.

This holy water
runs through the hearts of all of God’s children,
every unique person whom God’s hands have made.

Through the grace of God, the river is discovered.
With patience and yielding,
there comes softly to the soul an awareness of a Holy Presence,
greater than can be imagined,
suffused with love and tenderness,
quietly delighted with its beloved creation.

There is a river that is God
within each of us,
flowing with living water,
giving life and freedom to all who avail themselves of its gifts.

Come to the water.
Step in boldly, drink deeply.
The river of God’s love flows eternally within us,
and we are forever made new
in its life-giving water.