A long time ago human beings thought the river that cut through their land was God. They knew this because they could not control it. The River God gave them life- but also death. He become the source of inspiration- but also the limit of their inspiration.
Then one day a man found a way to use the River God, to put its efforts toward something unintended. Travel came first, and then its force was put to moving gears on axles. Finally one man found a way to overcome the river’s limitations completely, and built a bridge to travel over and beyond the River God.
That experience was more then just a first step for those people, it was a touchstone in understanding. When they looked upon that river again it was no longer a God but a tool; a force to be respected and understood- but not feared or worshipped. And as they now had the power to destroy that river they also had the power to save it, or help it flourish.
This once cosmic entity had now changed, though not literally- or through any power of its own. It was their perception and reaction that had altered. As the people expanded in numbers, diversity and depth, the image of the River-God remained faint and unyielding. There were moments when the overwhelming power the river once held resurfaced in the minds and hearts of later generations. When their surroundings felt uncontrollable, and they stood before grand new challenges, the people’s hesitation conjured up their old River God.
In times of great enlightenment we’d use to say ‘just about time for another river-crossing’ as our old God comes round into a complex pattern, and we admire our new tool of civilization.
(at your brightest moment- imagination flows)
