Volume 32

On the morning of March 29, 1848, residents of Niagara Falls awoke to the unaccustomed sound of — nothing. For the first time in recorded history, the constant rumble and roar of the mighty cataracts was nowhere to be heard. The millions of gallons that normally rushed in a panic over the famous precipice had slowed to a mere trickle.

Hours earlier, harrowing winds and high waves had pushed chunks of ice in Lake Erie toward the mouth of the Niagara River. The jagged pieces soon became a giant ice jam that prevented lake water from flowing down river to the Falls. In no time, both the Canadian and American cascades were stopped cold and fell into an Erie silence.

Thousands of people rushed to see what was happening or — more precisely — what was not happening. From up high they spotted small pools of quiet water in a cavernous riverbed of icy rock that was laid bare for the first time ever. Beside themselves with excitement, many of the bravest scrambled into the gorge to explore the rocky basin at the foot of the Falls. They found a treasure trove of relics, including tomahawks, muskets and swords from the War of 1812.

While a few enterprising people made money by hauling timber out of the riverbed, many more stood giddily at the base of the Falls or crossed the Niagara from side to side, revelling in defiant acts that would’ve been impossible any other time. Some thought the frozenFalls were a sign the end of the world was on its way.

But after 30 hours, warm air and pounding waves finally broke apart the ice jam. What witnesses describe as “a low growl” upstream quickly turned into a roaring wall of water that ripped along the riverbed and rushed over the Falls. No one was hurt.

Though Niagara has never again been completely stilled, the waters are periodically slowed by ice bridges. They form when extreme conditions let ice and slush pile up below the Falls and create a mountain up to four storeys high. Tourists were encouraged to walk on the mounds, until 1912 when one broke apart, killing three people.

If we use Niagara Falls as a symbol of God’s power, this story speaks of what happens when we let sin or adversity interfere with our faith. The “river of living water” — the Holy Spirit (John 7:38, 39) — must pass through our heart before He courses over our lives with a force and energy that change us from within. So watch out for the winds of compromise and the waves of moral accommodation that so easily jam the heart, freezing out the power of God.

If we deliberately and habitually turn from him, out of bitterness or rebellion, He won’t impose himself on us. And if people are used to hearing from us an ever-present backdrop of praise and raw, spiritual power, the sudden and sensational change in us will cause quite a stir. At first, there may even be a sense of excitement as people clamour to explore a side of us they’ve never seen, with some of our more sordid thoughts, motives and desires laid bare for the very first time.

Without the love and healing of God flowing through our lives, it’s also quite likely a few things from our past will make an appearance, perhaps attitudes or resurgent hurts and insecurities. Some people will exploit our new situation for their own gain, some will see it as proof that God can be defied without consequence, and others will expect us to reap quick and cataclysmic punishment.

But thankfully, our Father continues to love us, no matter what. When we finally warm to that, and his persistent inner urgings, the icy barrier breaks down and his transforming presence sweeps mightily back into our lives, generating light and power for living. More wise, and more grateful, we can then focus on not letting spiritual slush pile up around us — those icy, unstable bridges to the world that can do so much damage. Make sure your pride does go, before the Falls.

By Rick Gamble. Published in Cross Current, the weekly newsletter of the followers of Christ congregation in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Reprint at will in not-for-profit publications. To subscribe to this free weekly article, send a note to Rick at sgamble@bfree.on.ca