Confluence...

Lately I've been thinking a lot about confluence zones as a metaphor for the areas of difficulty, discord and disconnect in our lives. Sometimes we are unable to connect or to understand one another despite all our best efforts. In these moments, we are not unlike the two distinct waters in the churning boil of a river hitting the sea on upon its arrival at the coast: one freshwater and one sea salt. 

I believe that the churning water and seeming disorder of the confluence zone provides a unique opportunity for growth that might not otherwise be possible.  There are entire ecosystems of creatures that thrive in the distinct brackish space that exists between the stream and the sea.  But imagine how much time, difficulty and discord was necessary for the evolution of those specialized creatures.  None of the fish and plants and micro beings that live in the fresh water spontaneously adapted to the stress of salted sea water the minute their little waterway found its way to the ocean. Nor did the deep sea fish suddenly feel inspired to go away to visit shallow pebbled river beds on vacation.  They had to work out their differences: they churned, they evolved, they adapted.  

I believe that there is great hope in that capacity for change over time.  It is an innate feature found in nature and in ourselves as earthbound creatures.  Stress can foster unlikely evolution.  I try to remember that discord can be a powerful force for increasing strength over time, even if it sometimes feels as insurmountable as the struggle faced by every river drawing near to the sea.