January 7 / Chapter 7

A Bubbling Fountain for Thirsty Souls

37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone  is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 But this He spoke  of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive...   – John 7:37-39

Today, I come to John 7 a very thirsty man.

As 2010 has passed, Carol and I find ourselves, in the words of Psalm 63, in a ‘dry and weary land.’ This past year swept over us as a perfect storm of arid care-giving demands:

• For 8 months, Tim, our wonderful son-in-law has been struggling deeply with a crippling neurological–and as yet undiagnosed–disease that has stripped him of his job, his dignity and his ability to walk pain free or without a walker. 

• For 14 months, my 91-year old live-in Mom has been recovering slowly from a serious hip break. Now confined to a wheel chair, we are grieving with her the loss of memory, freedom and dignity.
   
• For 120 months, Mattie Jeanne, our delightful 10-year granddaughter, has been weathering a series of congenital malfunctions, corrective surgeries and therapies. 2010 brought several new and serious diagnoses; one of which is a rare heart issue that could be life threatening.

I am thirsty today as I prepare to go with Tim and Deb to Emory Hospital for an MRI consultation with Tim’s neurologist and his colleagues. Our weariness crashes upon us like a wave. No quick fixes or easy answers here. The desert goes on as far as the eye can see. My self-centered flesh asks, “Is it time for a ‘pity party?”

Then came the Oasis in the wasteland. As we began to pray the Gospel to ourselves this morning, the tears began to flow. Tears of grief, turn to tears of repentance and finally tears of joy. The Holy hush of the Spirit’s presence has come upon us. Jesus, once again, is allowed to take center stage. The bubbling fountain of God’s presence more than quenches our thirst.

He is the Oasis, both with and within us, for each faltering step we take through whatever desert through which we currently find ourselves journeying. He is the source of shade, shelter, food and water. His presence in us brings rest, refreshment and joy; a refreshing foretaste of the Beauty that lies at journey’s end.

The glory of the wilderness is thus: Without the parched lips and raging thirst, we would never seek the Oasis.

Myles