Making Room for Life

I was flying over Eastern Oregon last week, looking at the multiple water reservoirs, and the streams that usually feed them. The streams have dried up from summer, but the scars they left on the earth are still easily seen from 10,000 ft. I could see the man made dams created to hold water in a particular location, keeping it from running on its way to the next low spot. The purpose of the dams is to store water during times of plenty, for the hot summer when Eastern Oregon's rain shadow keeps the land dry. The dams usually hold enough for the sparse populations and their agricultural pursuits to get through the summer.

I thought about how life is similar to a stream of water, constantly running, passing us buy. Sometimes it seems that life is full to the banks, even gushing over and touching others. Sometimes life is just barely evident as we trudge through long, hot days. I thought about how I could build "dams" during times of blessing and rest to help get me through the tough spots. I think this means purposefully stopping and taking inventory of the many things I have to be thankful for, recording them in some fashion so when the discontent comes, I can pull from my time of plenty, my "dams". More thought needed here to flush this out further.

Another thought; when the streams dry up, and the only water left is in the dams, the scars on the earth from where the streams were are very evident. I think the parallel here is that when life is full, it takes it's toll on us, washing away spots of life which will never return. We don't see this erosion until the streams dry up and we can look at life a little closer. When we start to see the apparent damage, it can put us into a depression. Life is meant to be spent however, we only have so much time. It's how we spend our time that will determine our legacy.