Issue 1543 – Old Man of the River September 6, 2024
Rearguard Falls, Fraser River
The old man of the river watches over the spawning salmon at Rearguard Falls, British Columbia (near Mount Robson).
The falls are the end of the line for spawning Chinook salmon. They have traveled more than 2000 km upstream to their birthplace to spawn and die, and only a very few manage to get past Rearguard.
It is an interesting legend. It was spawned (pun intentional) by the face of a bearded man that time and weather have carved into a rock face at the base of the falls. The old man of the river is nothing more than a fairy tale, something I penned to accompany the photos I took, but it makes for an interesting story. The part about the spawning salmon is true, and the rock face is real.
There is a certain comfort to be derived from knowing that someone is watching over the important stuff. Many cultures worldwide have stories about just such a being.
Unlike the fanciful imaginings about the Old Man who has no power, Christians have the comfort of knowing they are being watched over by the creator of all the universe, Almighty God himself. He is no story or myth. He is alive and well, and He is in charge of all things. There is nothing we can do that escapes His watchful eye.
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,and the light about me be night,”even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. Psalm 139:7-12
He knew us before we even were.
For you formed my inward parts;you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;my soul knows it very well.My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:13-16
We can also take comfort in the fact that while He knows all about us, He loved us enough to send His Son to die on our behalf.
For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8
His love and mercy far outweigh that of a fabled rock face. It is something we can take comfort in during this life and for all eternity.
Until next time, rejoice … Jesus loves you.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)