Yesterday I was back at the top of the valley, inspecting the water gate in the dappled sunlight.
This time it was stones, not vegetation, determining how the water was flowing.
The heavy rains a few weeks ago had cleared the sticks and silt, dislodging and exposing the rocks. And the constant pressure of water fixes them in place.
It is interesting to watch what happens when I move just a few of these stones, how the brook responds immediately, with renewed energy in evidence.
And reminds me of the impact of shifting rocks in our own lives.
But we have to choose wisely. Some will only yield after others have been taken away.