“Ignore the rushing water. Ignore everything that tries to pull
you under or knock your feet out, or obscures your view. Plant your feet on
solid rock.”
Through Rushing Water is the story of Sophia, a French
teacher in New York in 1876. Her life
was all planned out and everything was going great until the day the man she thought
she would marry announced his engagement to one of her close friends. Feeling the need for a change, Sophia signs
up for foreign missions expecting to be sent to China. Instead, she ends up teaching the Ponca
Indians in Dakota Territory. While there
she realizes that some of the things that she really valued meant nothing
compared to the vital necessities that these Indians lacked. She valued money, fancy dresses, a fine
reputation while the Indians only wanted food, shelter, clothing, and a place
to call their own.
While working as a schoolteacher at the Dakota Territory
mission she meets Will, the missionary carpenter to the Ponca tribe. She immediately notices something different
about him. He is quiet and reserved but instead of looking down on the people
he is helping, he has learned their language and determined to be the best that
he could be in spite of the overwhelming circumstances of extreme poverty and
utter helplessness.
Together Sophia and Will strive to make a difference while ignoring
the rushing waters of circumstances.
Sophia writes letters to congressmen and politicians asking for help and
interest in the plight of the Ponca people. Will takes a quieter approach,
sharing his story with as many will listen when the Indians are moved out of
their place of residence and he heads home to Omaha to pick back up his
carpentry business with his brother.
This book taught me a lot about being able to look past the
circumstances that may be staring you in the face and pressing forward seeing
the bigger picture. That God has us in the center of his protection if we will
follow his commands and let him lead us.
When we get to the really tough situations, he won’t leave us helpless.
That is when he will no longer hold our hand but pick us up and carry us to the
other side of the trouble. So take
heart, know you are not alone, and ignore the rushing waters!
Jessica, Thank you for your wonderful review of Through Rushing Water! When I look at the Ponca's situation or the Holocaust or today's violence in Sudan and the Congo, my heart cries out to God, "How long? Where's the justice?" It must have been so difficult to live through while holding onto faith. And impossible without faith!
ReplyDeleteBlessings on your mission, Jessica!