Living Water

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7:37-39

     I’ve often been amazed at how life thrives around water. Even if it’s not much water, just a little seems to draw a lot of life, especially if the water is there year-round. I found a place not far from home which has a small stream running though some cedar trees. The area was logged years ago, so there is no large timber anymore. Only gigantic, decaying stumps from days gone by.

     Star and I have hiked a lot of the surrounding area, and found  minimal sign of wild animals, although there’s a lot of human activity nearby, i.e. motorcycles, four-wheelers, etc. But the place the Lord has led me to, near the stream, is a bit too steep for people riding machines. It’s proven to be a fine local escape for me and Star the Wonderdog when I don’t have a lot of time to travel.

     In the last month, we’ve seen tracks from deer, elk, bear, cougar, and wolf near the stream. Just yesterday we saw our first fresh moose track. I know of at least three different families of ruffed grouse that are rearing young in the area. Yesterday Star and I were actually charged by one of the adult grouse as we got a bit too close to the young ones. Mama puffed herself up and courageously ran straight at us as the young grouse scrambled to conceal themselves in the brush. Then Mama grouse flew a short distance and feigned distress, trying to draw us away from the little ones. I kept Stardog close and we exited the area before Star located a peep with that super-sniffer snoot of hers.

     One big advantage for me in hiking near a stream is that Star has her own water source available. That lightens my pack, as I only carry my own water for the hike and don’t need to be concerned if she’s getting enough to drink.

     In the Bible, water is often the symbol of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that it is the Holy Spirit that gives life, the flesh profits nothing. Perhaps the abundant life that we find around water in the natural world reflects this very idea. As the Scripture under the picture states, believing in Jesus is our key to this living water.

     It’s much easier for me to pray, read my Bible, and sort things out in a quiet, outdoor setting. When I’ve got the sound of a stream sliding past as background music, it’s all the better. If you can find someplace similar, I encourage you to take some time and give it a try. You just might be amazed at all the life you’ll find there.

Hope you have a great day.