A Lesson In Oneness From a Mountain Creek

I’m enamored with water. Whether it’s watching an ocean roll onto the shore, the serenity of a still mountain lake, the energy of an overflowing water fall or the sound of a rushing mountain creek, I am captivated by its sights and sounds.

This winter I paused at the juncture near our home in the mountains where two creeks merge together. My senses were filled with the awe and wonder of how the two become one, then goes on to run wider, deeper and more powerful.

I thought about the tributaries I knew of that emptied into each of the creeks. One of those tributaries meanders through the hollow on our property. I’ve spent many a summer day watching my grandchildren play in that little branch. I wondered if the one stray rubber duck that got away from them made its way down the mountain to this juncture and eventually finding itself on the lake.

And then it dawned on me. This is symbolic of marriage.

Two Become One

• Each creek comes from separate sources with its own set of branches to create it.
• Each creek has its own uniqueness. One is known for its superb trout fishing, the other generates enough hydro power to provide electricity for two homes at its headwaters.
• Each creek over comes obstacles and rushes on to etch out a path that leads it to its date with destiny; when mysteriously the two become one.

The Juncture

The two surging creeks press on, they never stop. The current experiences a brief turbulence as they merge to form one creek. The waters suddenly deepen, the creek bed widens as the powerful current surges over and around every obstacle in its way. No rock is too big, no fallen tree laying across it will prevent it from continuing on. As the water passes under the bridge, there is no determining which creek it came from, it’s all one source, one creek that keeps moving forward, never looking back and yearning for its former status.

A Lesson In Oneness

Earlier this month Mike and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. Life has been rather turbulent over the past year.  Our “creek” has gone through some major shifts in direction, depth, and a much faster flowing current. There’s been times it’s been difficult to navigate. Our marriage had been like taking a leisurely tube ride down a lazy river. Suddenly we found ourselves on a class 5 raging river and all we could do was hold on to each other for dear life and keep paddling and sometimes bail some water out of the raft. Life still isn’t settled in, but we’re paddling together in oneness.

Here’s a few thoughts on oneness.

• My husband and I came from two diverse backgrounds, each with our own set of family members and idiosyncrasies. They contribute to who we are, but they do not define us.
• We were each created with our own uniqueness that ultimately contributes to our marriage.
• Becoming one means there is no his or mine, it’s all ours. (And that means bank accounts, too!)
• We had obstacles in the way, and continue to have obstacles, but we move forward and don’t look back. We may get around a problem differently, but like the creek splitting to go around a large rock, we meet back up on the other side and keep moving forward.
• Like the creek bed stays within its boundaries, our marriage bed stays within the boundaries of our marriage only and does not overflow into another’s territory. Our waters run deep and are sweet and pleasurable, but only for each other to enjoy.

 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.   Genesis 2:24 (NASB)

Thank You, Lord for the gift of oneness in marriage. What a beautiful picture of our union with You.  Thank You we can learn lessons on oneness from Your creation. Lord, be with each woman who reads this devotional. May her hearts desire be towards oneness. If she’s married, oneness with her spouse. If she’s single, may she feel complete in being one with You.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

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