Rivers of Waters:

Psalms 1:1-3 states: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the council of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Some people prefer to seek the council of health care providers from the world rather than follow God’s simple remedies that do not debilitate the human organism by their natural properties.   Others prefer to continue in their unhealthy ways despite hearing the truth about good health practices and then there are still others that prefer to spend their time complaining about the health care system as we know it rather than learning how to fix it.

What does it mean when the latter part of verse 3 says that “his leaf shall not wither?”  One of the best ways to make a tree thrive instead of having it wither is by placing it fertile soil, clean air, unobstructed sunlight, in moderate climates that is planted in the midst of a good continuous water supply.   Never the less, we see in nature, trees that remain evergreen that appear to defy this science by thriving at times in suboptimal soils, at high altitudes where the air is thin and in freezing conditions.  What is it that can we learn from the evergreen tree?

Evergreen trees grow in all parts of the world and have the peculiar characteristic of being able to adapt as needed to the habitat it is placed in. 

As we correlate the character of a thriving tree with the human body, when we eat a plant based diet, drink appropriate amounts of water, dress properly, rest, exercise, have principles of good hygiene, get out in the fresh air and get sunlight, we are like evergreen trees.  Never the less, when this is not feasible, in as far as is possible, we must learn how to adapt to our environment. Adaptation is a key element for survival, productivity, vitality and longevity. 

When nutrients are scarce or in limited supply, we must adapt by being more efficient in what we do with what we have, so as to maintain the highest nutrient use efficiency. In organizing our activities, then our productivity per unit energy spent is maximized.  Upon having the lowest nutrient loss rate, this allows dominance despite adversity, due to incorporating positive feedback, so that whatever we do may prosper. 

Furthermore, when we adapt our ingestion of foods by limiting our diet to plant based foods that are even lower yet on the food chain, such as in eating stems and roots, this strengthens the vitality of the living tree.

The next question is: When there is a reduction in nutrient availability, how does one reduce energy losses?  When one learns the art and science of adaptation, by increasing efficiency, one can reduce productivity without compromising vitality.  Increasing efficiency can be achieved by loosing weight, avoid eating between meals and eating late at night.  When we eat no later than 6 pm, this efficiently allows the body sufficient time during the resting hours to break down what was stored and then synthesize what is needed.  Further efficiency can be obtained from eating foods that have long life spans, such as raw foods from the vegetable kingdom that reduces decomposition.   

Chapters 13 and 15 discuss some of the ways in which the human organism is like a tree and Chapter 2 discusses how to cultivate good habits.  Never the less, if we were to meditate for a moment on these first and last verses, the question that one must ask is, if we want to “learn how to fix our health care system”, what is it that is so special that we can learn about “the rivers of water” that molds us into the image of God?

The Bible tells us that “The Word” was made flesh and that everything that was made was made.  In order for something to be made, the Bible tells us that God expressed it and his words were heard.  The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet are the alpha and the omega.  The letters beginning with alpha and ending with omega express completeness.  God calls himself the Alpha and Omega.

H20, otherwise known as water was artistically made by design from one oxygen molecule and two molecules of hydrogen in an “A” like configuration or alpha form, just as omega oils, denoting the carbon atom furthest from the carboxyl group of a fatty acid, were scientifically made by design, in that they are last, are by definition an omega.  When the art and science of streams such as these come together and combine as one, they form tributaries or rivers, as if they were giving tribute to their maker. The portal vein combines such rivers from the stomach, spleen, pancreas, left hemi-colon, small intestine, right hemi-colon, duodenum and gallbladder, transporting water and oils leading to the liver forming what collectively make up what are called the Tributaries of the Portal Vein. 

From dust we were made and when we die, to dust we shall return.  Jeremiah 18:2-6 says, “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.  Then I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.  Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter, saith the Lord?  Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”  

Imagine if you will in one hand you have water, and on the other you have dust.  Clay is a sticky substance made of dust and water.  The oil in clay is the mortar that holds it together when it dries.  Much like the potter’s wheel turns, as the days, months, seasons and years roll by, when we fast after sunset, followed by break-fast after sunrise, day after day, month after month, season after season and year after year, this allows the mortar in the clay to remain pliable, become washed, much like consolidated matter rolling down a stream, that regroups, reshapes and conforms into the likeness in which it is made. This is what happens from beginning to end, as the food we eat travels down the 32 feet of intestine in our digestive tract.

Remaining synchronized with the Potter’s wheel is no easy task with all the uncertainties in our lives.  This is why one day in seven was set aside for the human race.  The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.  We all need a day of rest from all our work so that we can worship God.  When we are synchronized with God, it is then from him that all blessings flow. It is this continued “evergreen” relationship with him that makes it such that everything that we do shall prosper. 

If we were to further meditate for a another moment on the verses of Psalms 1:1-3, whereby there is mention that “the leaf shall not wither,” the question that one must ask is, what is it in leaf that keeps it from withering?  Leaves are to the tree as the lungs are to the human organism.  They have arteries that transport oxygen that is vital for life.  When we get out into the fresh air, take deep breaths, exercise drink water and absorb the rays of sunlight into our bodies, the oxygen flows through our system giving vitality. 

Leaves are green due to their chlorophyll content.  The chlorophyll in leaves provides the architecture needed for the production of red blood cells that further promotes oxygen transport.  Green leaves are covered with wax that lubricates it’s surface and promotes elasticity due to it’s omega oil content.  There are omega 3, 6 and 9 oils in the human body.  They are not synthesized but rather are ingested.  Modern science tells us that there are 8 different fatty acid pools that appear to coincide with the artistic design of the tributaries of the portal vein.  These pools can be divided into long, medium and short chain fatty acids.  After eating breakfast, as the long chain fatty acids get absorbed into the tributaries of the portal vein, in the liver they are broken down forming medium and short chains once much like the marring of clay in the potter’s hands. Then cycle after cycle, in keeping with the laws of health, the art of healing takes place.  On the other hand, when we fast, fatty acids that have been distributed and placed in adipose tissue throughout the body are returned to the liver.  Upon arriving at the tributaries of the portal vein that then pass through the liver, the small and medium chain fatty acids, depending on the biologic needs, combine into the reformation for the purpose of redistributing large, medium and short chain fatty acids.  Then cycle after cycle, in keeping with the laws of health, the science of healing takes place.