Rev. Tyger Penson
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
It is April, 2015, and Todd and I are taking a drive along the Zimovia Highway on Wrangell Island in Alaska. It mainly follows the body of water called Zimovia Strait on the right as we leave the town of Wrangell with hills and trees on our left, interspersed with houses for the first six miles.
It is mostly cloudy with patchy breaks in the sky and the occasional rain shower patters on our windshield. About seven miles down the road, we begin to see small waterfalls cascading over the cliffs or between the stumps of the now logged off areas. At one point a wide waterfall emerges.
On our drive back, we realize there are even more of these mini-waterfalls than we first imagined, all flowing toward a trough along the road. As the rain increases, the water flows at an even greater speed into the ditch.
These waterfalls are like the Pentecost event described in Acts 2. They demonstrate the love and care of God, gushing forth frequently into our lives. There is no way to turn them off—they just flow and spray out with an abundance of undeserved love. It seems as though they are most abundant when the weather (our life) is stormy or dreary or even despairing. God’s love knows no bounds. His care is profuse!
Jesus said as he was teaching in the temple courts, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:37-38) The miracle is that those who recognize this outpouring of care and love of God will find that their lives too will begin to flow abundantly with care and love for others.
In the song, “Shine, Jesus, Shine” are the words, “Flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy.” The waters of God’s mercy and care are generous and flow freely where they will. You find them pouring upon you no matter what!
Prayer: Thank you, God, for your generous outpouring of care and love, not only for me, but for all of your creation. Let me help others see this generous outpouring you so wondrously give. Amen.