Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but
whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I
give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal
life.” (John 4: 13-14)
8 pints a day – water required to maintain our bodies. What does it take to sustain our souls? How do we access that spring of water? Getting older, that vitality, creativity and motivation, the feeling of lively possibility often eludes. How to access the promise of ‘a spring of water welling up’?
Intellectual exercise becomes part of spiritual exercise. How are we to identify the life-force deep in ourselves? Dynamic energy in those deeply lived moments? How to recognize that positive power in others and in events? In Jesus, per John’s Gospel, that life-force was fully present, dynamic and engaging. The divine creative force was at work. The impact was perceptible and palpable: mediated through Jesus, divine power changed for good the specific circumstances and entire lives of those with whom he engaged. Jesus promised this power to his disciples, ALL he encountered and through the Spirit to those coming later.
Jesus’ teaching, miracles and death give identity to this wonderful life-force, personal and positive. His lifestyle – a balance of worldly engagement and withdrawal to worship and pray points to the way we too access the Spirit.
Affirming the challenging presence of God in ourselves, letting the Gospel live for us as we contemplatively read, remembering the deeds and thoughts of the Church through the centuries, engaging with fellow followers - the community of saints, identifying wonderful people and happenings in the world. This inspires and connects one to the life-force and motivates us to making the Kingdom present, the creation splendid.
Of course, it is good to drink water and walk, Jesus did a lot of that – it was part of His being, too!
“Lord, Well up within us and let us overflow with your gracious being.”
Lilias Morrison
8 pints a day – water required to maintain our bodies. What does it take to sustain our souls? How do we access that spring of water? Getting older, that vitality, creativity and motivation, the feeling of lively possibility often eludes. How to access the promise of ‘a spring of water welling up’?
Intellectual exercise becomes part of spiritual exercise. How are we to identify the life-force deep in ourselves? Dynamic energy in those deeply lived moments? How to recognize that positive power in others and in events? In Jesus, per John’s Gospel, that life-force was fully present, dynamic and engaging. The divine creative force was at work. The impact was perceptible and palpable: mediated through Jesus, divine power changed for good the specific circumstances and entire lives of those with whom he engaged. Jesus promised this power to his disciples, ALL he encountered and through the Spirit to those coming later.
Jesus’ teaching, miracles and death give identity to this wonderful life-force, personal and positive. His lifestyle – a balance of worldly engagement and withdrawal to worship and pray points to the way we too access the Spirit.
Affirming the challenging presence of God in ourselves, letting the Gospel live for us as we contemplatively read, remembering the deeds and thoughts of the Church through the centuries, engaging with fellow followers - the community of saints, identifying wonderful people and happenings in the world. This inspires and connects one to the life-force and motivates us to making the Kingdom present, the creation splendid.
Of course, it is good to drink water and walk, Jesus did a lot of that – it was part of His being, too!
“Lord, Well up within us and let us overflow with your gracious being.”
Lilias Morrison
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