The River

I am so lucky to have this incredible picture window in my office that faces the Shiawassee River and I watch the river flow by as I go through my day.  The levels and colors change a lot and I often wonder where did that shift start?  How far back?  Was it some sort of control in Holly or was it before that?  And what will happen to the river from here?  This beautiful river that graces our small town travels a long, long way and eventually feeds into the Great Lakes.  This also means that anything that happens to it along the way has a direct effect on the local lakes as well as the Great Lakes.  I feel it is our job to protect it, to keep it clean, and though we are not the only ones that effect it, we are a small part of that river’s journey and for that I am grateful.

I love this little river.  I do not know how I got to be so lucky to share my days with this river, but I do and I count it as one of my many blessings.  My awareness has grown over the past year for this river and I am sure will continue to grow as the years go by.  I have seen a few people out enjoying time on the river already this year and from the sounds of it, there are a lot of improvements happening in the very new future to make it even more accessible.  I look forward to this treasure becoming a draw for people to come spend some time in Fenton.

Today as I look out, I can see reflections of light dance across the surface.  I see birds and ducks and dogs along the banks.  The river helps to frame a huge willow tree in my view and I ponder and appreciate the symbiotic relationship the river and this tree have shared for who knows how many years.  Many have spent time downtown Fenton by the gazebo where the water fall is and sat and appreciated the energy that comes from that falling water.  It is mesmerizing and is a great place to go and shift your own energy. There is a saying that you can never step in the same river twice which is such a great analogy for so much of life.  The only constant in life is change and to me, when the river speaks, it always reminds me “this too shall pass”.