What is the summary of the will of the river by alfredo gonzales?

Answer 1

Analysis of the essay The Will of a River by Alfredo Q. Gonzales The "Will of a River" by Alfredo Q. Gonzales, talks about the life of man on earth. The river is likened to a person's life. Firstly, it shows that it is an undeniable fact that there are many trials, problems and difficulties that one encounters in life. Sometimes these circumstances are considered to be negative. There are many hindrances and obstacles that one faces in life. How are they dealt with? The person must have patience and endurance to hurdle testings and even adversaries in life. There are those who easily get dismayed and discouraged. They surrender or even retreat, but there are those who persevere and do not easily lose hope, like the river. Secondly, it also speaks of determination to reach the goals of life. If we cannot overcome the obstacles, we can undercome them as aptly expressed by the author. Have the optimism to reach your goal and possess an outlook in life not in pessimism but in hope. You have that optimism to reach your goal and your outlook in life must not be one in pessimism but of hope. When we experience hardships in life or when things get rough, we must not quit. Just stick to the fight. One has to live his life faithfully and be a blessing to others. This is why the river exists. Without doubt this is the noble reason for our existence on earth. You are not just living for your self but you live firstly for God and for other people, as well. The popular saying, "No man is an island" suggests that you cannot live alone but you need other people and they need you, too. Whatever you possess (talents, abilities, or it could even be riches) you have to share them to other people. Be generous and not selfish. You may comfort others, help those who are in need and even be able to sacrifice for the sake of other people. This could be the meaning of life. If nature, like the river, which we consider devoid of feelings or emotions, fulfills its duty rightfully, how much more for man who was created by God in His own image with emotions, will, and intellect? One must consider his responsibility to others and must solemnly see the need to care and have compassion for others. With reverence, man must recognize the fact that the things he possesses in life comes from God. His life comes from the creator. He draws his strength from God. The things that he shares with others are gifts or blessings from the Lord. He lives by the grace of the Almighty God. And the same grace he must show to others. He can do nothing without God in his life. All his achievements, his victories, his possessions are attained or obtained because of God. What he is and what he has is all because of Him. Like a mountain, where the river draws its power from to be able to carry on, man has God. Like a mountain, big and high, God, the Omnipotent is the source of all, the source of strength, hope, and the courage of man to go on with and stick to his fight. Only that man has to trust and believe that God will enable him to move on and will help him, never to desert nor to forsake. Therefore, a man should be faithful to his calling, believing that God will be able to keep him from falling. And in His promise he will trust for He will be faithful to finish the work He has begun to each and everyone's life. -Sharon Rose S. Germo

Answer 2

The essay "The Will of a River" by Alfredo Q. Gonzales, talks about a man with a friend and his son walking the course of a river. He notices as they walk that at one point the river can't be seen... it has gone underground or something, because no matter where he looks at that point, it is undetectable. In other places, the river seemed small or weak, but he knew that farther down, closer to the ocean it was strong and flowing.

He likens the river to our lives, comparing the river's dedication to get to the ocean to our dedication as we encounter obstacles in our lives. Like rivers, our goals should be to continue and live for the rest of creation. A river's strength and determination would be less if their source were not the high and lofty mountains, and we would be less if our source and power did not also come from on high (read: God).

My favorite quotation from the essay is "These resolute and sublime souls all reminded me of what our river taught me-that if we cannot overcome obstacles, we can undercome them." Here, Alfredo is saying that sometimes we can't face obstacles head on, but like the river, if we have determination to reach our goals, we can flow around or under our obstacles instead... finding a way, even in the toughest times.