Water On the Rock

      A few months ago, my family had a day trip, driving out of the city into the villages. It was a hot day, and we were glad we got to take a stop at a river. We cooled ourselves off with the cold water, and then we spent a few peaceful moments by the riverside.

      After a while, my mother, with her ever-present wisdom and insight, called me and drew my attention to the water running over and falling on the rocks. At this point, you may be confused as to why she would call my attention to the obvious fact that the water ran over the rocks, as it happened right before our eyes. But in reality, she was telling me to focus on that part of nature that was too often accepted at normal and overlooked. I can’t remember her exact words, but the concept of what she said to me next is as follows:

      Look at the rock blanketed by the tireless flow of the water. Unlike the surrounding dry, rough rocks, this one was smooth to the touch. Why? Because the running waters of the river eroded the surface and smoothed the rough edges, apparently. Now, notice that the force of the stream was not very strong. It was a considerably quiet river, in fact. Definitely nothing like the strength of a waterfall. So how did the river succeed in eroding the rock? One word: persistence. Continuous flowing changed the face of the rock significantly.

Photo taken by Nathanael Chong

      Do you want to impact the world? Do you want to effect a change in people’s lives? Your greatest weapon is not strength, power, or prestige. It is persistence, perseverance, and determination. You do not need to have all the knowledge in the world, the best persuasion techniques, or the best theology. You just need to be consistent in your work, and make sure that your life is not hypocritical. Persevere with the grace of God, and in due time, you will start to see the results. Let us continue to persist in our faith, like water on the rock.

Blessings,

Nathanael Chong