What do weather and rivers have in common?

Flow is what time and rivers have in common.

Flow has such a smooth and cozy sound, doesn’t it? It’s always there and it’s something you relax into. You can count on the flow.

When you let go and relax, the flow will take you.

So why do we struggle so much with flow, especially when it comes to time?

The flow cannot be forced.
The following passage from the Talmud is one that has always fascinated me.

Whoever forces time is pushed back by time; he who yields to time finds time on his part.

I find this passage particularly interesting given the emphasis on efficiency and productivity in our 24/7, always on, always busy world.

So what do you think of that?

On the one hand, I would say that this fragment clarifies the power dynamic between time and humanity. It does not matter that us do, time flows. Fighting it doesn’t really offer any hope of success.

watching the river
If you think of time as a river, the Talmudic metaphor is clearer. A river is a constant and powerful force. You barely notice the current most days, but it’s there, moving all the time.

And trying to push against a river is useless. The flow of the river water simply carries everything with it.

It is the same with time.

the time and the river
Living in time, we are always in that flow. There is no denying or escaping that fact.

The clock ticks, the calendar pages turn, time moves constantly. And that flow will take us if we relax and let it.

But what if we don’t want to be taken?

Fighting the flow…
Have you ever tried to stand up and keep your balance in a rising river? Your feet slip as the deluge pushes your body back with all the power and weight of the river.

He may be able to stand alone momentarily, but eventually, inevitably, the effort will wear him down and he will be dragged along, seemingly even faster than before.

The weather and the river – they just aren’t things you can force.

Going with the flow…
In the meantime, imagine yourself tubing down the river on a warm, sunny late-summer afternoon. The water moves slowly and you move with it, enjoying the scenery.

What a different feeling that is. Instead of fighting the river, you use its power and let it carry you effortlessly.

Does this metaphor ring a bell? Try not to fight time today.

So, try not to fight time today. Let it take you, as you plan your day, prioritize, make time choices, and cherish every moment.

Let’s explore time together…