The River Flows

There is a short story in the beginning of the book Illusions by Richard Bach. It goes a little something like this...


There was a river. At the bottom of the river were little creatures whos only purpose was to cling to the rocks and plants there.
One day one of the little creatures said to the others "I wonder what would happen if I let go?"
The other creatures were horrified. "You'll be taken by the current and smashed by the rocks in the river! Never let go!" But the one little creature thought that there must be more to life than just clinging to the bottom. So, he summoned all his will and let go. And the current picked him up, took him very rapidly down river, and he was smashed into the rocks.

The little creature was banged up and bruised, but he was alive and the current once again took him down stream and he hit another rock. Shaken, but not discouraged, he pushed away from the rock and down stream he went again. After awhile the little creature realized that while he was at the mercy of the river, he could wiggle and turn just enough to avoid the rocks. He became one with the water and loved his new freedom in traveling the river.

After a time he saw other little creatures clinging to the river bed. When they saw him they were amazed. "Behold the miracle! One of us flies! It's a miracle!" they said.
As the little creature floated by, he yelled a response to the others.

"It's not a miracle. I just let go."

********************************************************

I may have messed the story up a little but the point is there.

Letting go is a hard thing to do. Getting smashed by the rocks sucks. But the longer I go along with the river, the easier the journey becomes.

Sometimes I look back and see others that I wish would let go. They could come with me on the adventure. But I understand why they still cling. It makes me sad.

And I can't keep looking back.

There are rocks to avoid.