by Marilyn Ehle
“Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst, not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.” John 4:14 (The Message)
The tall, exquisitely carved stone fountain burbled with water flowing from the top and then down over its three tiers. The fountain was firmly anchored in a round shallow pool where lights would illumine its beauty when the sky turned dark. On this sunny spring afternoon, swift breezes scattered droplets onto the surrounding sidewalk.
As I sat on a nearby stone bench enjoying the sights and sounds, I glanced at the rectangular bronze plaque fastened to the pool’s low wall: Re-Circulated Water
Here in this semi-arid part of Colorado, we are water conscious. Grassy lawns are being replaced by drought-resistant plants. “Turn off faucet when brushing teeth” is a frequent caution. Re-circulating fountains are the norm.
As with the fountain, re-circulated water can refresh and provide beauty, but it is fresh water that we crave when desperately thirsty. Do I experience “and give to others” fresh or re-circulated water? If God’s love and compassion are “new every morning”, why do I so often share the blessings from past days and not what God whispered into my ears this morning? Unlike the rapidly depleting underground pools of water in Colorado, God’s supply of fresh water is available, accessible and abundant. Oswald Chambers writes, “Beware of harking back to what you were once when God wants you to be something you have never been.” I might add that we must always be on the alert for the water we’ve never tasted before. Searching for fresh water is sometimes a process but always satisfying.
Lord, fresh water from you is always available but I’m often reluctant to search out the small springs. Keep me alert to the new ways you want to satisfy my thirst.
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