Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.
 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you… – Isaiah 43:1-2

So I have been watching the Tar over this past week. Well, of course who hasn’t?! Any time a tropical depression and heavy rain saturation event chugs along through the Carolinas, everywhere east of I-95 takes a special interest.

All we have here, however, is a brief incursion into “moderate” flood stage numbers. It’s enough to make Riverfront Park disappear and for “Oooo” and “Ahhhh” photo ops on the Main Street Bridge.

Rebekah and I walked that way Friday afternoon, then Max and I included the bridge in our routine morning stroll Sunday. You can tell the difference by looking at the streetlamp in the center left.

• “Did your river overflow its banks when Debby came by,” a friend asked.
• “Probably won’t happen till Saturday,” I said.
• “But it stopped raining a few days back,” he responds.
• “Yes… but the river likely won’t crest till Tuesday or Wednesday or so….”

Then I get to explain how it takes time for all that precipitation – miles and miles upstream – to make its way into streets and drains and ditches and streams and tributaries and then begin to swell our river until it is simply too much to contain and out it comes.

And where the water comes out depends on what is going on, both upstream and downstream, and the speed of the flow and where the low spots are. Then sometimes the water goes beyond our town and other times it escapes its banks earlier – and it is all about the paths of least resistance because water will always have its way.

Currents…

Let’s hold that thought. Thinking about people and most specifically about our relationships, where are the currents coming from? Where are the currents running? There is a lot in terms of preparation – precipitation – that runs through a million courses before interfacing with and filling up our river.

Have you had an interaction with someone else – maybe someone you love – and all of a sudden you are caught up in petty details – eddies – and then the flood comes or the emotions unexpectedly burst their banks, and you realize there is a danger zone or a moderate flood stage coming, or even something catastrophic?

It helps to know where the currents are coming from. It helps a lot to listen. It helps even more to ask good questions. It helps to avoid believing we already have all the answers. It helps exponentially to learn exactly who that person is and what is going on and where the currents are and what are the low points and how deep it is and more.

• “Can you tell me more about that?”
• “Help me to understand what you are thinking?”
• “This obviously means a great deal to you.”
• “Thanks for helping me to hear your perspective.”

Then, maybe, when we pass through the waters they will will not overwhelm us – DEREK