The journey of water as it flows upon the earth can be a mirror of our own paths through life. Water begins its ___21__ on earth as it falls from the sky and streams down a mountain into a stream or river. In the same way, we come into the world and begin our lives on earth. Like a river that flows within the __22__ of its banks, we are born with certain defining characteristics that __23__ our identity. We are born in a specific time and place, within a specific family, and with certain gifts and __24__. With these limitations, we move through life, __25__many twists, turns, and barriers along the way just as a river __26__.
Water is a great teacher that shows us __27__ to move through the world with grace, bravery, determination, and __28__. When a river __29__ at a waterfall, it gains energy and moves on, as we face our own waterfalls, we may fall hard __30 __we always keep moving on. Water can inspire us not to become rigid with fear or stick to what’s familiar. Water is __31__ and does not waste time sticking to its past, but flows onward without __32__. At the same time, when there is a __33__ to be filled, water does not run away from it in __34__ of the dark; instead, water modestly and bravely fills the empty space. In the same way, we can face the __35__ moments of our life rather than run away from them.
__36__, a river will empty into the sea. Water does not hold back from __37_ in a larger body, nor does it fear a loss of __38__ or control. It gracefully and modestly falls into the vastness by contributing its energy and joining without __39__. Each time we move beyond our individual characters to become part of something bigger, we can try our best to __40__ the lead of the river.