As the River Flows

Rarely does a stream or river ever flow in a straight line for very long. Rivers often have a serpentine, meandering course as they seek the path of least resistance. Water will always travel downhill when given the choice. It circumvents obstacles and works around barriers, always desiring an easier direction in which to move. Then, once it has found that path of least resistance, a river will solidify that course as it carves a rut through the earth. This works for a while until an obstacle blocks its path – maybe a large boulder or a fallen tree – and it then adjusts its course to avoid that obstruction.

Is it is the nature of traveling the path of least resistance that gives a stream its crooked shape. There is no intentionality or purpose in how water flows. It simply seeks out the easiest direction forward. In much the same way, humans become crooked while following the path of least resistance. While it may be unfair to use the definition of crooked meaning evil and corrupt to describe this (although that can definitely be the case for some), when we continually seek the easiest course, we end up out of alignment, misshapen and unsound. Our integrity diminishes. In short, we become crooked.

Crooked arrows will never fly straight, and we will certainly “miss the mark” ourselves if we make a habit of seeking out the path of least resistance.

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