Watching the river flow is like watching a clock tick. There is only so much time and one would think, and only so much water. But it just keeps flowing, night and day. He draws some inspiration from the washing and smoothing of the river rock. There seems to be a constant new beginning, rather than a means to a linear end point.
The cycles associated with the natural world have been in motion for so long that we don’t really notice them. For example, the smoothing of the rock, the decomposing of large dead trees, or even the carcasses of dead animals, all happening on an on-going basis, but rarely noticeable.
Not the same with mens lives and their structure. We have such a need to ramp up our existence and “make something of ourselves,” that when time starts working its inevitable duty, the slow down and breakdown become oh so transparent. We choose not to see it in each other when possible because it reminds us of our own narrowing path. There is much to say for acceptance.
Men fix things. When something is in disarray or breaking down, returning to the soil where it came, we see first a duty to rescue, an opportunity to profit, and a calling to preserve.
So the battle rages on, both in our physical environment, and in our personal beings. When many strive to eek out more time, either by covering time's effects and blemishes, or by injecting mental youth into outdated throwing arms, they are generally applauded for the resistance, the persistence, but not so much for acceptance.
He wonders here, what our world would feel like if we did operate closer to acceptance and an arm’s length from denial. What if we attempted to fall into the groove of our own life rhythms?
Nah…forgettaboutit...........it’s un-American, eh?
