In my previous post, I wrote about how Christ invites us to become gardeners, tending the soil of our hearts so that he may grow in us. But what does this look like practically?Today's post will look at one aspect of such gardening: watering.
Now that I've planted some seeds in our garden, I go out every day to water them. In the photo to the right, the dark patches of soil show where the seeds are (and where I've watered them). Usually by the time I go out to water, the darkness has nearly faded, so the soil is ready for more water and is constantly moist.
If we think about this spiritually, what is the water that nourishes us?
In the Gospel of John, Jesus has a conversation with a woman at a well. He tells her that whoever drinks the water from the well will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water Jesus gives them will never be thirsty (vv. 13-14).
Later, Jesus says more about the water he gives. John writes, '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." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive' (7:37b-39).
The water that feeds us spiritually, then, is the Holy Spirit, who is given to all who put their faith in Christ.
I grew up in San Diego, a desert city whose drinking water is supplied by the Colorado River, which comes from hundreds of miles away.
Many people speak about the Californian climate with envy. One of the most common responses people give when they hear my Californian accent is, 'Why did you move to England? It wasn't for the weather!' But you may already know about the droughts that have choked the Californian soil. Although indeed it is wet here in Cumbria, this water is the reason that the land is lush with life, moss and grass and other green things bursting forth from nearly every surface.
During this present lockdown, we are being deprived of many things, such as physical contact with others. Remembering Christ's death and celebrating his Resurrection feels very different to usual. It may feel like a time of drought.
However, I don't believe we are deprived of God's presence. We can use this time to commune with Christ and drink the water he gives us, perhaps more deeply than before. We can strategically use this time to tend our souls.
For example, going on a walk or gardening can be spaces to be still and silent. Personally, I find regularity to be important, so I have been praying through the psalms, at least one each day. I also find nourishment through joining my prayers with others through listening to livestreamed worship services. Although we can do these things even when we are not in lockdown, somehow the imposed solitude can help focus us on what is essential.
Where do you regularly drink the living water that Jesus gives? Where do you find nourishment for your soul?
Listen: 'Let All Who Are Thirsty Come' (song by the Taizé Community)
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