St Peters RC Church Hamilton

A river flows as everyone knows,

But why is it that the current slows?

In such a hurry to leave the mountains steep,

Rolling, tumbling the water will never creep.

Steadily hurried, down it pours

To safely land on plateau and moors.

But then, as if in no real hurry,

Bends, curves and this without a worry.

The gentle flow is the swan’s delight,

Dipping up and down, bobbing out of sight.

Across flat land it wends its way,

Travelling seawards day by day.

Inviting for swans swimming gracefully slow,

Leisurely they paddle wherever there’s a flow.

What happens later I’m not really sure,

Sufficient to say the river reaches the shore.

What do I learn watching the water’s slow progress?

It gets there in the end without distress or worry.

So ‘Why’ I ask ‘Do I tend to rush and scurry,

When a goal can be reached with much less energy?’

I look at nature and gladly consider,

A lesson well learned, thanks to the river.

The Creator has appointed life with a number of days.

Surely He would want me to stop and amaze?

I really enjoyed my walk by the river.

The March sun shone, no more need I shiver.

What I must do to remember today

Is carve out time to stop and pray.

For each moment spent seeking the holy,

Contributes well in making us happy.

For the Lord is a God of careful planning

Wanting us to use well, time’s outreach spanning.

It is a helpful question to ask,

As to how this use of time applies to us, our task.

Remembering God’s promise to make everything new. (Revelation 1 v 25)

How does this apply to you and all you do?

Do you see your life flowing quickly like the river can?

Or is it led at a more leisurely pace as began?

Because you seek the grace of God’s beneficial guidance

To stop and pray is ever of relevance.

Lord, I thank You for any opportunity to go out and walk in the beautiful countryside, because nature has so many useful lessons to teach us. Make me please more receptive to Your presence when I am surrounded by beauty. For then as I pray, You will speak to my heart, mind, will or conscience. And I do not want to miss anything that You say to me. Amen.