"A river went forth from Eden to water the garden..." (Gen. 2:10)
"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city." Rev. 22:1)
This week, a group of us finished a six-month long study of the Book of Revelation. Granted, we took time off before the Christmas season, bad weather, and vacation. We learned from each other and from God’s word. Even though there are difficult images and symbols to understand throughout the book, with patient study of the scriptures, the rituals, the prophets the social and economic context we come to a new appreciation of one of the Bible’s most difficult books.
One image, however, is practically universal: that of water. Water is not only necessary for physical life it is an ancient symbol of God’s eternal life and blessing poured on upon us. It appears at the beginning of the bible and at the end. Jesus identifies himself as this very life-giving water when he addressed the Samaritan woman in John 4:13-14: "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” It is a reminder that we are spiritual beings and we need to be connected to the spiritual every day.
We all have different ways to do this, and we have a gracious God who seeks to care for us daily in more ways than we can imagine. It is love that is poured out upon is in so many ways. It is love that plants its seeds nurtures them to grow. It is love that waters and nourishes and sustains. We are reminded, as we drink any beverage today, are we consciously, mindfully, taking in as well the spiritual and things that matter: Life. Love. Even deeper: the presence of eternity and unconditional love that God pours out on us in Christ.
Are you feeling dry? Wilted? Take in the living water that God has given through his Spirit, through nature, through music and art, through the relationships that are in our lives. Stay hydrated!
Listen to : Carly Simon, "Let the River Run" (from Working Girl)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv-0mmVnxPA
"Let The River Run"
Music and lyrics by Carly Simon, 1988
We're coming to the edge,
Running on the water,
Coming through the fog,
Your sons and daughters.
Let the river run,
Let all the dreamers
Wake the nation.
Come, the New Jerusalem.
Silver cities rise,
The morning lights
The streets that meet them,
And sirens call them on
With a song.
It's asking for the taking.
Trembling, shaking.
Oh, my heart is aching.
We're coming to the edge,
Running on the water,
Coming through the fog,
Your sons and daughters.
We the great and small
Stand on a star
And blaze a trail of desire
Through the dark'ning dawn.
It's asking for the taking.
Come run with me now,
The sky is the color of blue
You've never even seen
In the eyes of your lover.
Oh, my heart is aching.
We're coming to the edge,
Running on the water,
Coming through the fog,
Your sons and daughters.
It's asking for the taking.
Trembling, shaking.
Oh, my heart is aching.
We're coming to the edge,
Running on the water,
Coming through the fog,
Your sons and daughters.
Let the river run,
Let all the dreamers
Wake the nation.
Come, the New Jerusalem.
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