I am now looking at some very large river. I'm not sure which one it is; but it appears to be going (or coming from) the way I am going - west. It has all kinds of twists and turns as it meanders across the landscape puzzle. Sometimes it even loops back into itself. It veers far to the south and then far to the north and the east (or west) again.
I thought, "How like my life. I do have a goal, a destination; but how many times I veer in another direction and how hard it is sometimes to get back 'within my banks' and flowing in the right direction again."
I hope when I "meandered" that, even though it might have been out of your perfect will, Lord, I will have at least brought life (through the Water of Life that flowed through me) to what might otherwise have been barren soil. Use me, Lord, as I try to get back in my own channel, flowing within my own banks as You will, to cause life to spring up out of the banks where I have meandered just as this meandering river has caused trees and vegetation to grow along its banks while the areas distant from it are barren.
We're nearly to St Louis, and the river is still in view forming large arcs. I can't tell which direction (east or west) it flows from up here, but I sure can tell where it has been and left its presence. Even from this great distance I can't miss its influence; and that is what I pray for, Lord: Let my influence for your cause be profound!
The horizon is still so beautiful even though it's nearly dark. The lights below look like tiny - very tiny - specks of gold dust or crushed diamonds scattered over the land, picking up reflection from the glowing red and gold horizon.
We're about to land on Your earth, Lord, at St. Louis. Things on the ground are coming into focus, becoming real again instead of looking like doll houses and children's toys.
Life is real, too, Lord. Help me to keep everything in focus and to know Your will. Help me to not meander but flow in the direction and within the channel You've chosen for me. And, Lord, take my mistakes; use them for Your glory; water the banks of my meandering with Your love!
Amen!
