The Ferryman and the River of Time

A traveler arrived at the banks of a wide and winding river, eager to reach the great city beyond. There, waiting at the dock, was an old ferryman, his wooden boat gently rocking with the current.

“Take me across,” the traveler said, climbing aboard. “But please, let’s go quickly. I don’t have time to waste.”

Why aren't you rowing harder?

The ferryman smiled, pushed off from shore, and let the current take them. The boat glided smoothly, the oars barely needed.

The traveler, impatient, watched the winding river with frustration. “Why aren’t you rowing harder? The city is miles away. If we don’t move faster, it will take all day!”

The ferryman dipped an oar into the water and steered effortlessly around a bend.“Tell me,” he said, “how long does it take this river to reach the sea?”

The traveler frowned. “I suppose… it depends. Some parts move swiftly, others get caught in bends and rocks. It may take days, weeks, maybe even months.”

The ferryman nodded. “And yet, the river does not concern itself with time. It simply flows. Whether fast or slow, it always reaches the sea.”

The traveler crossed his arms. “That may be fine for a river, but I don’t have the luxury of waiting. The city is ahead, and I need to be there soon.”

The ferryman knelt by the water, trailing his hand in the current.“You think time is fixed, but it is not. It stretches and bends, just like the river. When you struggle against it, it slows. When you fight for control, you only exhaust yourself. But when you trust the flow, you move as quickly as you are meant to.”

He picked up an oar and lightly dipped it in the water, shifting the boat just enough to ride the natural currents. The river carried them forward with ease. The traveler, now watching the water instead of fighting it, realized the truth:

“What seems slow when you resist… becomes effortless when you align.”

And long before nightfall, the great city appeared on the horizon.

Contemplation

• Where in your life are you struggling against time instead of trusting its flow?

• How do you experience time differently when you are present versus when you are anxious?

• How might your day feel different if you trusted that you're exactly where you need to be?

  
  

Affirmation

I release the need to rush.

I align with the natural flow of life.

Time expands when I trust.

Every moment carries me forward.

I arrive exactly when I am meant to.

This story comes from my new book, Spiritual Parable as a Daily Practice. It’s a collection of short, timeless stories designed to inspire reflection and bring presence into your everyday life. Order your copy by visiting Amazon, at https://a.co/d/1NCIjES