This morning as I chatted with a parking storage guard at my office, he amiably mentioned, “Stay hydrated. It’s hot out there.” As I write this, we’re within the midst of a heatwave, as are many different locations on the earth. It’s good recommendation, and I attempt to preserve my trusty chrome steel water bottle with me.
Per week in the past, on my oceanside retreat, I used to be unpacking with Jesus the burdens of the previous yr, together with a number of completely different members of the family’ ongoing well being points, a excessive-stress yr of instructing, and deep social and political considerations. I additionally usually overload myself with too many tasks between my job, dwelling, and the “second shift” duties of housecleaning, cooking, and so forth. Retreat is a blissful likelihood to unwind and to let go of the on a regular basis stuff of life so as to relaxation with Jesus.
While gazing out on the ocean, I’m reminded that God is way greater than my considerations and that Christ shouldn’t be solely beside me, but in addition revealed all over the place within the pure world round me, together with the rocks and ocean waves. There is water all over the place, and it stretches out unimaginably previous what I can see or expertise. Praying on the ocean is an opportunity to get again to the “fountain,” the place Christ and I can join extra deeply once more.
During an imaginative prayer wherein I used to be contemplating the right way to convey again this peace to dwelling in the actual world after retreat, I felt Jesus say to me, “Stay hydrated.”
I acknowledged the passage to which he was alluding. Jesus tells the Samaritan girl to drink from the “living water” that’s Christ, in order that she is going to by no means be thirsty (John 4:10–14). That second in prayer was a reminder to me not solely ought I let myself “drink in” the goodness of God on retreat, but in addition keep in mind to take action within the midst of atypical life. For me, meaning actively searching for out locations and practices that assist to revitalize me, like:
- praying within the breezy house of my dwelling’s sunroom;
- strolling or resting in lovely pure areas, filled with crops and timber, or close to the ocean;
- attending Mass; or
- listening to lovely music to start out my day.
I can “drink in” the goodness of God, in order that I’m replenished sufficient to like and serve others.
The parking attendant’s cheerful phrases to me this morning felt like Jesus himself reminding me of the sooner prayer, and I needed to snicker as I drove into the parking house to start out my workday. Christ was there, in his phrases and in his care. “Stay hydrated” is nice recommendation.
Where do you discover “living water”? What locations and practices revitalize you?