"The Lesson of the River" - Part 3

All sorts of Scritural images came to me, as I sought to learn "The Lesson of the River." I was reminded of the "Living Water" of Jesus in John 4 that is a fountain of life and thirst quenching. The people were like leaves not really a part until they were submerged (baptized) in the river.

As I moved out toward the main stream, I noticed some leaves that were stuck under water on the rocks. One was waving madly in the current. It reminded me of someone waving their arms in praise of the Lord, but going nowhere. They were submerged, but stuck. Only a change in the force of the water or their breaking a part would get them moving again. Some people are stuck and need to be "torn apart" ("pruned") in order to become part of the flow of the river. They are religious, but lack power. They are like Pharisees.

Some leaves were stuck motionless under the surface, but they too would have to be broken apart or somehow moved from where they were. They were not waving madly in the current putting on a religious show, but were flattened out, hopeless and seemed very sad. Like Sadducees, not believing in the resurrection of the dead.