River People and Hill People: Ohio River Reflections

Many years ago I had a an Indian friend tell me that there are really two types of people--river people and hill people. As much as I love the mountains, and as inspiring as it is to climb a summit, I'd have to say I'm a river person. I grew up on the Ohio River, or Pelewathiipi as my ancestors called it.

I've swum in this stream and pulled a wide variety of fish from its waters. I've boated to its islands, and I've hiked, biked, and driven along its shores. And I'm not the first in my family to have this intimate connection to what the French called La Belle Rivière. I've often watched the sun set along the rippling waters of the Ohio and found myself reflecting on the past or dreaming about the future.

You see, the rivers and the mountains, they both carry an array of stories of their inhabitants. Sometimes you can hear echoes in the ripples or in the wind. Last week, my dad, Jamie, and I stood atop a hill looking down on the river and into the Ohio country near Parkersburg. As I we watched the sun sneak behind some low floating clouds and disappear from our view, I found myself thinking about all of those who have come before to this place, and my own history with this river.

There are some places that we make a habit and a lifestyle of visiting. For me, the Ohio River is probably the most longstanding sacred space in my family. At times I feel as though something is missing or my visit is incomplete if I don't make it to at least gaze upon this river for a few fleeting moments before journeying onward. It's as though the river is one of my longest standing friends, and she always seems to have time to catch up, and after leaving, I always feel refreshed, renewed, and as though I've connected with something not quite supernatural, but still larger than myself. Maybe that's the way it is with all of the creation. I find, quite similar to Jonathan Edwards, that there is an image or shadow of the divine in the whole of creation. When I see the rolling mysterious waters of the Ohio, I'm reminded that there is Someone who is larger and more powerful than any river, and yet I can't even get my mind around the power and majesty of the river.

Are you a river person or a hill person? Where are the places you find yourself journeying towards as though catching up with an old friend or relative? If you don't have a place, I hope you can find a little sanctuary in your neighborhood whether it be a hill, a river, or some other parcel of the created world.

River Water

For the next couple of days, I will be staying in the gateway to the West, St. Louis. The photo above was actually taken over two years ago on a similar trip for a conference out here. The water on the Mississippi is much higher right now. In fact, much of the area below the trees appeared to be underwater as we drove by yesterday.

It's kind of wild to look at a river, and think about the flow of the water. I live near the Monongahela River, and the water that flows past Morgantown goes into the Ohio. The Ohio River starts in Pittsburgh, and travels past where my best friend in the whole world, Willie grew up, and on down past where many people in my tribe lived, and goes past my dad's house in Parkersburg. And then, that water, travels around Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois as it makes its way to the Mississsippi, a little south of st louis.

All of that water is constantly traveling, and it stays it's course. That water that runs in Morgantown, eventually makes it's way near St. Louis. It's hard to imagine in a world of planes, trains, and automobiles that travel by water was once a fast and convenient way to travel.

There's a lot that can be learned from river water. It's pace is steady. It's goal is clear (even amid it's twists and turns). It has a power to carve through the landscape and leave an unforgettable mark on the land it covers, as well as the land that surrounds it. Maybe you can think of some other lessons too?

Regardless, may you be purposeful in your flow today as you impact the landscape around you, and may you have a positive impact at that!

Shavers Fork

This afternoon I took a drive to have some time in for reflection and
prayer. I drove to our family cabin near Elkins WV. This morning I
realized after cutting my grass last week it would probably be good to
cut the grass at the cabin too. It's all done now.
As I sat alongside the river and watched the flow, I could help but
think about the flow and rhythm of my own life. My family and my
people have always been river people. The river reminds us of the
power of God and his deliberate and constant work in our lives.
Sometimes our lives get out of rhythm, but God never does. Sometimes
our lives seem out of control, but just like the river, God always
accomplished His purposes.
As I sit here along the river I'm reminded of His infinite stability
and resoluteness of purpose.
Wherever you might be today, take time to reflect on God's perfect
stability and strength. There are many purposes God wants to carry out
in our world and lives, and He offers each one of us an opportunity to
join in that work. In His time. According to His purpose and plan.
May God achieve His purposes through you today!

New River Narrows

Yesterday, I traveled a short patch of US Route 460 that I've traveled on a couple of other occasions. Each time I've traveled, the weather has been poor, and I've been in a hurry to get to my destination. At the same time, each time I drove this short stretch, I've felt a desire to stop and take a picture. I've felt like I should come back one day.

And so yesterday afternoon was my day. While traveling past the town of Narrows, I stopped near a boat launch and snapped this photo. I even took a moment, at the suggestion of one of my friends, to dip my feet in the water (this is a habit I have in a few different locations--year round.)

Between the sun, and the view from the valley, this little moment of respite in an otherwise consuming week was incredibly enjoyable.

Have you ever felt drawn to a place like that? I mean, the first time I went through this area it was night time and it was four years ago, but in my mind, I just wanted to drive this stretch of road along the New River again.

There's something about driving along the bank of a river that just does something to me. I remember having this soothing tranquil feeling as I made my way along the Allegheny River with my parents later in the fall of 2005.

I'm so thankful for the soothing power of water. I can't describe it, but when I go to the riverside, I feel a sense of tranquility and ease that I can't fully describe.

Yesterday, as I stood along this river bank, I thought, "How cool would it have been to have grown up here along this river?" And then I started thinking about how easy it is to feel like the grass is greener on the other side, and to be constantly filled with a longing for something more, something different, or something else.

Honestly, my life and my times have been pretty amazing. The creator of the universe has woven a wonderful set of experiences for me, and I hope I never take for granted the places He has allowed me to go, the work He has allowed me to do, and the people with whom He has filled my life.

My cup runneth over, and I am grateful.

La Belle Rivière

La Belle Rivière, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

This is one of my favorite places. It's the Ohio River. The french called it "the beautiful river" and it truly is beautiful. It actually starts in New York and goes by the name Allegheny River up there. One time I drove along many miles of the Allegheny with my mom and dad. Many times we have driven along the Ohio. Every mile of it is beautiful.

Technically, the Ohio starts where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers join at Pittsburgh and then it continues south and west to the Mississippi. This river defined rivers for me as a young boy. I can remember many fishing trips, many bike rides, many car rides, and many memories in general along the banks and in the waters of this river.

The banks along the river have changed a lot over the years. There's a little bar and grill that pollutes my night time view from the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha Rivers now. There's also lots of new houses and businesses that keep springing up along different portions of the river.

The whole world seems to be in a state of flux. Things are changing constantly in our world, but the river itself, it never seems to change. I think maybe that's why this river has always been really important to my family and my tribe. The river offers serenity and stability.

Even as you read this, think about your life. Think about the changes you have witnessed and experienced. Consider how your life has been shaped over time and the beauty and agony of it all.

And then remember the river. Remember the water. Remember that there are somethings that give us stability in our life.

No wonder Jesus talked about rivers of living water that flow from within for those who know him.

I hope you can freshly experience that truth in your life today.

Sunset on the Ohio

Sunset on the Ohio, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

Here is a shot of the area where I grew up. This is my river, my sanctuary. My dad found this cool park and cool view and wanted me to see it. I want you to see it too. I am usually closer to the water when I visit the mighty Ohio, but on this evening we were able to look at it from a hillside (hills are rare in Parkersburg). The French called this river La Belle Riviere (The beautiful river). I imagine you can see why they might call it that. And possibly, you can see why it has been such a special place for my family, and other Shawnee people for generations.

Not Quite Home

Not Quite Home, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

As I walked along the boardwalk in Wilmington, NC along the Cape Fear River, I felt like I was back home in Parkersburg for a bit. Maybe it is the combination of bridge and sternwheeler that does it.

I imagine anyone who has grown up along a major river town sees this as a familiar image. Once, all of the major waterways of the US were covered with these sternwheelers. But now, they are an icon of the past used mainly for touring.

My senior prom was on a sternwheeler. So was my class reunion. We used to take rides to blennerhassett Island on them when I was a kid. I imagine anyone who sees an image like this gets taken back to adventures along the river, and being a pirate, or a sailor, or some other such hero or villain of yesteryear.

Feel free to post a memory you have of sternwheelers if you grew up in a rivertown like me.

Pittsburgh and the Monongahela

Pittsburgh and the Monongahela, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

I've been thinking a lot about my heritage lately. I've also been thinking about history. Pittsburgh was one of those centers in which Indians and Europeans would gather for trade and treaty. it's hard to believe that after a couple hundred years the city has developed so much.

The monongahela river runs from morgantown to pittsburgh. I can't help but reflect on all that the banks of that river have seen. All of the families playing. All of the businesses being built on the water. All of the people making the journey down the river to pittsburgh to trade or to find a place to make it.

And I took this picture standing on Mount Washington. I wonder what it felt like to come to this mountain ridge, look down upon the town making its humble beginnings here, and thinking about the past.

As I look down on it, I can't help but think about the trees that once stood in place of the skyscrapers, and how the people of the past probably saw those trees as being semi-permanent, the same way we view the skyscrapers.

At least the river still flows . . .