What is there about a stream that can mesmerize me?  The water is alive with motion as it tumbles over rocks and ridges.  There is activity within the water making it seem full of life. There are some times small minnows, tiny insects or water “bugs.” Yes, Living Water.

In John 7, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. ³⁸ For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from the heart of anyone who believes in me.’”

As a teenager, I was very active in my Luther League youth group.  We had many long weekends and sometimes in the summer a full week at “camp.”  Some of those special friendships, though we are scattered through many states, are kept active through social media and the memories are wonderful for all of us.

On one of the 4-day outings, I was 16, almost 17 years old at the time with a steady boyfriend (not at this camp).  He had made a foolish big error in judgment, with serious ramifications, unrelated to me, but I was quick to judge him and struggled with how to react and move forward.  After a lengthy walk/talk around the camp with my pastor, I pondered his words of guidance.  Where did I do my reflective thinking?  I found a stack of rocks sticking out of the middle of a nearby stream.  I waded out and sat down and watched the water cascading endlessly from my sight.  I was able to “be still” in the moment, to focus on pastor’s wisdom and allow myself to “feel” God’s presence.  I can close my eyes all these many years later and see that stream of living water and recreate the sensations and thoughts I had at that time.

In John’s lesson Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit as living water, which would pour out of believers, when Jesus was glorified.

A stream of water, stillness, God’s wisdom through my pastor, nature enveloping me like God’s arms of comfort. Unconditional love was all around me. Thank you, Jesus!

Jill