The premise of my book, Letters from Downstream, is that you can tell a lot about the quality of a river by what’s happening downstream. If the water is good, that is an indicator of its quality upstream. But, of course, the reverse is true—if the water quality is poor, you look upstream for the cause. Regardless, the water will keep flowing and effecting those in its path, for good or bad.

Leadership, be it parental, church, governmental, or business, is like a flowing river. Whatever is pouring into it will be carried along downstream and affect others along the way—children and grandchildren, congregants, citizens, and employees and customers.

This morning, I read an article about a British chef who had previously cooked for the royal family. He also opened several successful high-end restaurants. Then he decided to move to a small community and open a bakery that would provide bread, cakes, and pastries at affordable prices (“Giant” scones for less than a British pound.). His philosophy was, “everyone deserves a treat.” He offers “pay-what-you-can” baking classes, and has created an upstairs lounge for patrons to enjoy a warm place to enjoy pastries and tea. He also, in light of surging energy prices, decided to allow citizens access to his commercial ovens to bake traditional Christmas cakes (similar to fruit cake) free of charge due to their long baking times. His shop will even pick them up, bake them, and return them!

What do you think is flowing from this man’s stream, and what is its effect “downstream” on his employees and customers? What flows into us, flows from us into others.

Every river has a source and then tributaries along the way flow into it. These determine the quality of the river as it meanders its way. If the water is pure, the river will be as well. If it is full of toxins, then the river will be harmful to animals and humans. We would be wise to learn from the lessons of the river.

First, the quality of the source is critical. Adults are shaped and influenced first by their parents—their source of life. What flowed into them was determined by what flowed into and from their parents. The qualities of their lives play out in general society as citizens, employees, leaders, and eventually parents. Just as a river has a multitude of benefits or harms for communities hundreds of miles downstream, so, too, is a childhood impacted positively or negatively by the quality of parenting.

Second, even if our lives were well-sourced and we are passing that along, we must recognize that our impact is not the only one. There are other influences (tributaries) that can flow into our rivers. They, too, can have a positive or negative impact—friends, social media, teachers, etc. They can be uplifting and positive or they can be toxic and dangerous.

Third, no one is beyond redemption and reversing the effects of toxicity. Just as rivers can be cleaned up, so, too, lives can be restored. They can be returned to health if the right measures are taken. I recall in the early days of the pandemic, pictures were posted of major cities around the world, ones before the shutdown and then the others in the midst of it. Before the pandemic, the cities were shrouded in smog, but after they shut down, the air cleared.

So what are the practical applications of these lessons? The first two are to be proactive about what is filling your mind and heart. Does the Lord and his Word play a central and daily role in your life? Are you reading, meditating, praying, and applying his truths to your life? Are you monitoring and controlling what other influences are seeking to impact you? If you are putting these lessons into practice, then what will flow from you will be good and pure.

And if you are not? Well, there is always hope in the Lord to restore you. This is the application of the third lesson. Don’t give up, but cry out to the Lord. He can clean you up!

One thing is consistent through all three of the lessons: the Lord is the source of our wholeness and our ability to live upright lives. It is best to get a good handle on the first two, but if we don’t, then the third can provide us with hope that all is not lost.

And just as these lessons can apply to you, they can also apply to your children. It is best that you pour into them pure spiritual water and to guard them from toxic influences. However, if you haven’t, hope is not lost. The Lord can clean them up, too.

© Jim Musser 2022