Rivers of Living Water

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.'” Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39.

Have you ever seen someone with rivers of living water pouring out of them? What an interesting image. I wonder what that would look like. My mind first goes to icky things – like nose bleeds. But then, in my imagination, I see Christ. He is radiant, of course. His hands and arms are open and inviting me to come in a little closer. His expression is that of knowing and that of love. He smiles at me, even when I am suffering, to remind me that there is more to come and it is good. When I see Christ like this in my imagination, I have a feeling of warmth and safety and acceptance and “all is well.”

Then I wonder about the people I have experienced who have been like Christ to me. Gracefully, there have been many. My husband. My grandmother. Michael’s grandmother. My spiritual director. Each of these people have offered me many of the things that I see Christ offering to me in my imagination. A safe place to be mad or sad or scared or weak. Acceptance of where I am on this journey and encouragement for where I want to be and for who I long to be. Each of them have offered me beautiful, wonderful, unconditional love.

What a gift it is to be blessed in such ways! This is just one of the ways that God touches us and helps us to know that we are loved by him – by giving us others in loving relationships. Our earthly relationships are not perfect, but they do offer a glimpse of the great and wonderful mystery that is the love of God. Each drop of love we receive from God and others adds to the stream of living water that is inside each of us, so that we can become a believer with a heart that flows rivers of living water. It is all about love. May it be so. Amen.