The Words in the Water

A River Runs Through It is a beautiful story, not about fly-fishing, but of family and acceptance. Norman and Paul Maclean are the two sons of a Presbyterian minister in rural Montana. One son (Norman) is reserved and educated. The other (Paul) is rebellious, and though all he ever wants to do is fish, the boys and their father have this one thing that keeps them together. Reverend Maclean has taught the boys to fly-fish very well, but soon finds out that Paul is rebellious when he notices him straying from his father's form of fishing. Paul invents his own style, and this is reflected in the way he lives his life, as well. Are there times in your life that you have seen yourself in either of the two boys, both following what you have been taught or going against it? Have you found yourself rebelling against your parents, the rules or laws of society, or even the morals and lifestyle you know to be right? Are those morals there because you have been taught them or because they are under the rocks in the water, that they run through everything you know to be true? Consider that they might be set out by God by the Word (the Bible).

Norman follows his father's insruction, from his schoolwork, to the obeying of rules. He ends up going to a prestigious university and offered a teaching job. Paul, on the other hand, is not as scholarly, goes to a local community college and ends up working at a newspaper in the city, with a lifestyle of gambling, drinking (during the prohibition), and women. The one thing he holds on to is his love of fishing. After coming home from university, Norman finds out that Paul hardly ever visits anymore, and goes to the city to see him and to bring him home. Think about how the choices we make effect certain aspects of our life and our future. Can you look back on choices you have made that if you made different ones how it would have impacted your life.

Paul comes home with Norman to find that he is still welcomed by his parents, who know about his lifestyle and accept him anyway, never condoning his lifestyle, but showing him the love of Christ in spite of his mistakes. Even as they grew up, Norman was willing to sometimes go against what he knew to be wrong in order to back up and support his brother when all their other friends show their lack of loyalty. They end up getting in trouble when they steal a neighbor's boat and wreck it in order to fulfill a dare. This loyalty to his brother does have its limits, and ultimately Norman chooses to do what he feels is right, even when it means leaving his brother to his gambling and drinking. It ultimately drives Paul to his death, but reminds Norman the rest of his life of love, loyalty, family, and acceptance. God loves us even in our rebellion, always accepting us for who we are. Remember this whenever you make mistakes, and read this very similar story as it is laid out in the Word. Luke 15:11-32