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A Different Sort of River Illustration

 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. (II Corinthians 10:4-6)

 

In chapter 6 of Renovation of the Heart, Prof. Willard starts talking about warfare. He doesn’t describe it as such, but he describes ideas and images as being the problems, and information and thinking as being solutions. This brings to mind self-talk and the discovery of repetition creates new neural pathways in the brain. And that brings to mind Newton’s Second Law, that an object in motion continues in the same direction at the same speed unless acted on by another force. We cannot get rid of, change, or move bad ideas or images without the use of mental force.

I’ve written before about the thought experiment of trying to swim upriver, across a river, or down river. In each instance, the swimmer is fighting against the current in some way. Usually, I use this illustration to describe peace. This time, think of the current as being ideas and images. We tend to float along with them. Even when we do try to fight the current, it’s like trying to row a canoe with a fly swatter. Information gives us a bigger paddle.

But there are two images that come to mind. The first is from The Lord of the Rings and (I believe) from The Little Mermaid. If there are two people paddling the canoe and they’re facing each other, the canoe isn’t likely to go anywhere except where the current takes it. If you’re going to have someone in your canoe, make sure you’re paddling in the same direction. I also know from experience that one needs to paddle on the left side, and the other on the right. The other image that comes to mind is from my own experience. I was alone in a 16-foot canoe, and in the back – which means the wind got into the act, pushing the bow in directions I didn’t want. I finally made it to shore by back paddling.

The application I take from both these is that God is the best other person to have in the canoe with you, but at the very least, have someone who is headed in the same direction and has a clue what he/she is doing because their added weight at the other end of the canoe, and added strength and skill is a great help. You still may have to work hard to get your mind to overcome the ideas and images that have been dragging you where you don’t want to go, but it is easier than when you’re alone.

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