Lakes and Rivers

Sit beside a river and you sit beside the living movement of the world. Fresh water is the rarest gift on earth, and nearly every living thing depends on it: the river running clear over stone, the still lake holding the sky on its surface, the salmon climbing home against the current, the otter and the kingfisher, the willows leaning down to drink. From the high mountain spring to the wide slow delta, fresh water carries life deep into the land and gives it everywhere it goes.

These moving waters are greater than any of us, and they flow within us still. Fresh water is most of what we are, and the same rivers that quench the land quench us as well, gathered and given and gathered again in an endless, faithful round. To pray for the rivers is to reach toward something flowing and life-giving beyond you, and in the same breath, to feel the current that runs through your own life.

So hold the lakes and rivers a while, today and tomorrow and the day after. Picture the waters clean and clear, the fish returning, the banks green and full of life, and offer them what you offer all you love: a wish for their health, their purity, their bright and flowing thriving. Let this be your prayer for the rivers, in your own words, in your own tongue. The truest ones are rising like a spring even now.

Guidelines for eco-prayer and good will intention displayed as text on a starry background with a pair of hands holding a small globe of Earth.
A flowing river surrounded by dense green trees under a partly cloudy sky.
Elephants standing and walking in a river with rocks and greenery around.
Sunrise over a misty lake surrounded by tall evergreen trees and forested hills.
Aerial view of a river delta with multiple water channels flowing through green land, leading to a mountain in the background, under a cloudy sky.
A waterfall cascading down rocks into a greenish pool surrounded by lush green trees under a blue sky with white clouds.
Mountain range with snow-capped peaks, tall evergreen trees, and a calm lake reflecting the scenery, with pink wildflowers in the foreground.
A scenic view of a sunset over a lake surrounded by mountains and lush trees, with a pink building and old stone structures in the foreground.
A white swan standing in shallow water near the shore, with water in the background and feathers scattered on the ground.
Aerial view of a winding river surrounded by lush green forest.
A small waterfall flowing over moss-covered rocks in a forest stream.
A lake surrounded by dense pine trees with a mountain range in the background. A duck swims in the lake near the bottom of the image.
Several fish swimming in green water.

The images here are to help you connect with the Ecosystem. For Additional Photo Resources Visit the Eco-Prayer Resources Page

An Eco-Prayer for the Lakes and Rivers

Churning rapids into still deepness. Falling rains arrested and held in movement. Lymph and blood vessels of the Earth. Life and cleansing to the land.

Fish and crawdad. Willow and dragonfly. Frogs croaking a love song.

What beauty here sings in your heart and will?

Explore Other Ecosystems

Satellite view of Earth from space showing continents, oceans, and clouds.

Earth

A colorful sky during sunset with rays of light shining through clouds, creating a vibrant scene of orange, yellow, and blue hues.

Sky

Underwater scene with various colorful fish swimming above a coral reef.

Ocean

An aerial view of a forest with various trees in shades of green, some with white or orange leaves, and a small winding path running through the trees.

Forest

Landscape with a grassy plain, distant mountains, and a cloudy sky.

Plains

A desert landscape with red rock formations and sparse vegetation under a blue sky with some clouds.

Desert

A coastal landscape with green hillside vegetation on the left, rugged cliffs, and the ocean with waves and rocks on the right under a cloudy sky.

Coasts

A heron standing in a marshy area with green vegetation and water plants, reflected in the water.

Wetlands

A river running through a lush green valley with boats floating on the water, surrounded by densely forested hills under a partly cloudy sky.

Lakes and Rivers

Snow-capped mountain peaks under a clear sky with faint stars.

Mountains

A large iceberg floating in calm, cold water with a cloudy sky overhead.

Poles

Close-up of a bee collecting nectar from a small yellow flower with a fuzzy green stem, blurred green background.

Local