I can’t lay claim to this title, nor lay claim to have read the book it comes from. I heard about this book on a podcast by the author and the theme of it has been bouncing around in my head ever since.
“Show me a straight river.”
Nothing in nature is ever straight.
Recalling a multi-day hike I did years ago, I remember towards the end of this 14-day trek, I could tell when we were nearing civilization. My eyes could pick out the human-made straight edge of a sign, or post from some distance away. Whilst many things appear to be straight in nature; a stick, branch, tree, or the horizon line, none of these carry the true straight line of human-made objects.
In nature nothing is straight, yet it seems we expect life to go in a straight line.
From Point A to Point B
‘From point A to point B I expect life to do this…..’
This might be in relation to career progression, completion of studies, attainment of a new skill, hobby or practice, or even the pursuit of love. Yet rarely have I found that life follows this pattern. Many friends can tell of journeys in life they expected to be a simple straight line that ended up journeying through life like a winding river.
“Life is about the journey, not the destination” is a well-meaning saying I’ve seen pop up on many travel cushions, posters and journals that irks me on occasions. If life were about the journey, then what’s the point of aiming for a destination?
There are two characters in the Bible whose lives show how God’s purpose is still found amidst the winding of life, and that God is true to his word that states: “God makes all things work together for the good of those who love him.” Romans 8:28
Joseph
Genesis 37 - 45
Joseph’s story begins so with vision and promise. He is the youngest son of Jacob, and treasured by his father who seems to show him more favour than the other brothers. At quite a young age he has two prominent dreams, prophecies, that declare his future position to be one of power, with his brothers (represented as sheaths of wheat in one dream, and the stars of the sky in another) to bow down to him.
Whatever may have caused him to share these dreams with his brothers at this time (immaturity, arrogance, lack of wisdom), it doesn’t end well for him. His brothers, so enraged with him, plan to kill him, and if not for his eldest brother (Reuben) they decide to spare his life and make money out of selling Joseph to a traveling caravan as a slave. The brothers convinced their dad Jacob, that his youngest son had been killed by wild animals.
The twists and turns of Joseph’s life continue as he is sold into slavery in Egypt. Joseph finds favour to work as Potiphar’s slave, only to be misrepresented by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison. He spends the next 12 years in prison, still faithful to God. By the kindness of the guard he is brought before Pharoah, and Pharoah seeing Joseph’s wisdom and gifts, grants him a position of power. Over the next few years, Joseph proves himself and becomes second only to Pharoah in all of Egypt.
It is in this position of power that Joseph’s early prophetic dreams come true when a famine in the land forces many travellers to seek supplies from Egypt. Joseph’s brothers come to him and humbly bow, not recognizing the Egyptian leader as their long lost brother.
Paul
Acts 27 - 287
Paul is another man whose aim of travelling from Point A to Point B, becomes clouded with many unexpected turns.
Paul, is sent to stand trial in front of Caesar, sailing as a prisoner from Jerusalem to Rome.
This was meant to be a short multi-day journey. But amidst difficulty and treacherous weather, the ship Paul was on, gets shipwrecked. Barely escaping the wreckage of the ship, all the crew and passengers survived, arriving on the island of Malta. Here, by the warmth and light of a fire, Paul is bitten by a snake. The locals instantly believe Paul is a murderer, then change their minds as Paul is not affected in the slightest by the bite. The horror from the locals turns to praise as they declare Paul a god for being bitten by a snake and remaining unaffected. Paul spends time with the mayor of the island and heals many sick.
After 3 months on the island the crew of the ship finally set sail with all the implements they need from the generosity of the islanders. From the initial journey to nearly 4 months, Paul’s life is littered with twists and turns that show Paul God’s hand is still on his life.
Life advice in the River
So many times in our lives advice comes along to tell us “how things ought to be”, and for so many aspects of life our brains make connections between where we are and where we want to be with the least amount of resistance. This equates to a straight line between point A and point B.
However, in life it is rarely like this, nothing in nature is ever straight, and so many times the turns in life prepare us along the way for the destination ahead.
Next time life throws you a curve ball, or you find yourself standing on the bank of a river, just remember the stories of Joseph and Paul. Romans 8:28. “God makes all things work together for the good of those who love him.”