Currents

I am a fish in the stream of God's consciousness. 
I am grateful to swim in these waters. 
The river runs through me and gives me life. 
I enjoy the river most when I seek the current 
And follow it downstream 
For that is the way of the river.

I can struggle against the current, 
But I cannot hurt the river. 
I can swim near the bottom and muddy the waters, 
But I cannot hurt the river. 
I can swim upstream to pursue a goal
Or just to prove that I can, 
But the exertion leaves me tired and frustrated. 

I am free to pursue 
Whatever food floats in the river, 
But because I am a stupid fish, 
I can eat until it kills me.

There are currents of belief
That other fish claim have taken them downriver
Quicker and with less effort; 
I am free to swim and find the current 
That moves me with the most economy of motion. 
If I decide that the point of life 
Is to see how far downstream I can go, 
That is as good a goal as any other. 
However, it will always be my choice
To decide where to swim and at what speed. 

What good does it do me 
To question the currents 
That other fish choose to pursue? 
This takes effort, 
And swimming is easier 
When I surrender to the waters 
That flow through and around me.
I trust the river to take me downstream.

Some fish deny there is a river.
Others say there is only one true current. 
I say that I can only learn as much about the river 
As a fish can learn about the river. 
The river has much to teach me 
Before I am ready to swim in the ocean. 

If I am eaten by another fish, 
Or if I kill myself by swimming into a rock,
It is not the fault of the river;
It is merely the way of the river. 
Nonetheless, when I die, 
I will still be part of the river 
And continue on my way downstream
As another part of life 
Until some part of me eventually reaches the ocean.

Don Dudding
Feb. 1997