Monthly Archives: May 2011

Satisfying a Thirst

Posted on by

Jack and I love our daily ventures to Lake Michigan. The minute we get there, he flops down on his back, legs in the air, wriggling toward the heavens in a happy dance. It’s his canine way of praising God for creating the beach.

The second thing he does is jump into the creek where he gulps a tasty drink, but he’s not the only one. Paw prints in the wet sand prove how many others love the water: deer, rabbits, raccoons, seagulls, dogs and a fox. Adidas and Nike have been there, too, and my bare feet leave additional prints.

I don’t share Jack’s love of a “Creek Cocktail” but apparently the animals prefer that over clear, clean lake water. It’s nice to know local critters have an unlimited water supply, unlike animals living in deserts and other dry areas. Not even the biggest crowd could swallow up Lake Michigan.

All of us need water. We might choose to fast from food for over a month and survive (as Jesus did), but no one can fast from water. We need it daily.

I remember the newspaper account of a man afloat in Lake Michigan on a stalled jet ski. He drifted to where he couldn’t see the shoreline and hoped he would eventually be noticed by a passing boat. Unsure whether or not the lake was safe to drink, he went dry, quickly suffering dehydration. When he eventually drifted ashore several days later, he had nearly died of thirst.

Jesus referred to himself as a source of “living water,” water so life-sustaining we’d be foolish not to drink it. In conversation with a woman who was about to fill her earthen jar from a well, he offered to give her a sample of his supernatural water. She said that no water anywhere could be as good as the well water she was about to retrieve. But Jesus said, “If you realized the significance of what I was offering you and who was offering it, you’d eagerly take  it!” (John 4:10)

Thankfully, after two additional days of conversation with Jesus, the woman and many others from her village were able to grasp the incredible value of what he was willing to give, and they drank deeply of it.

Amazingly, Jesus’ water supply is still available to us today. Its benefits are eternal, and when we drink it once, we’ll never thirst for it again. The only requirement is that we bring an empty vessel and a willingness to believe he is who he says he is. After that, he’ll fill it till it overflows.

I’ve tasted this supernatural water, and it is, indeed, life-sustaining and thirst quenching.

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13)

Dog-gone-it.

Posted on by

Recently, while driving 75 mph on a crowded expressway, I saw an animal crouched in the grassy center-strip. As I got closer and whizzed by, I saw it was a dog, a Beagle.

He must have successfully crossed one set of lanes hoping to make it across the second. Poised to bolt, with his head forward, chin parallel to the ground and legs bent, he seemed to know what he was doing. I’ll never know if he made it.

Today, again on an expressway, I saw a furry lump ahead on the shoulder. Flying past, I saw it was a dog, big and Collie-like. He was lying on his side, his white belly and long fluffy tail out of place next to the road. He looked as if he was napping, but surely he’d been hit.

Was someone looking for him? Maybe a young boy or girl who considered him a best friend? If Jack had been hit by a car and found lying like that, the girls and I would weep for weeks.

Ten miles later, still thinking about the Collie, I saw another fluffy animal ahead, this time a German Shepherd. He, too, was lying on his side. I wondered about the two cars that had hit these animals. Had they seen them? Felt them? Tried to stop and help them?

It’s risky to touch an injured animal, but maybe a collar could have been removed and a call made. Surely the two owners were walking their neighborhoods calling for their pets, a disturbing picture.

Sadly, I didn’t stop either and was no better than a hit-and-run driver.

What’s the difference between someone who interrupts their day to do a good deed and someone like me? Big difference. The one who helps ends up on the nightly news, because he has rushed into a burning house or thrown himself into a river with his clothes on, intent on saving a life. A crisis erupts, and though logic says, “Step back!” he has stepped forward.

I’m the one passing by.

Scripture tells the story of a good Samaritan going out of his way to help a wounded man lying by the side of the road, much like the two dogs. Though others had stepped around him or looked the other way, this man broke stride, got his hands dirty, alleviated the crisis while risking recrimination, and helped.

What would I have done?

Heroes like this think nothing of stepping in. When interviewed afterwards they often say, “I didn’t think about it. I just did it.”

Maybe it’s a do-for-others mentality they’ve always had or a mindset they’ve developed because it’s the right way to live.

Or, maybe it’s God’s Spirit empowering someone to act with courage rather than cowardice. If that’s the case, there’s still a chance I might make the split-second choice to help someone in need.

But at a bare minimum, I should have at leas acted on behalf of two damaged dogs.

“Act with courage, and may the Lord be with those who do well.” (2 Chronicles 19:11)

 

Posted in Sin

A Perfect 10

Posted on by

A month ago 10 servant-hearted men from our missions-oriented church traveled to Kenya, Africa, to do good for a young woman and the 78 children she’s raising. Reah is an unusual 23 year old who cheerfully manages two children’s homes with minimum staff and maximum joy. (2/18/11 blog, A Shining Star)

Ten men journeyed to the other side of the globe with eagerness to help. Because of their busy, complicated lives, it might seem impossible for these “worker bees” to free their schedules for such a trip. Yet they did, representing 7 decades among them: guys in their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, a remarkable group.

Although some people say traveling is in their blood, most of us like their own beds, familiar routines and recognizable foods. Not these guys. They plowed into their trip with gusto and two purposes: to facilitate a fresh water supply for the children and to construct a small home for Reah.

Because clean water is hard to find in Africa, she was having to buy it with precious dollars needed for education, medicine and food. And with a place to live right on the property, Reah would be always available to the children.

She sets the tone for her big family with a positive attitude and strong work ethic, expecting the best from each one. Then, as they deliver it, she’s pleased not just to get the work done but in knowing their good behavior brings them personal satisfaction, too.

Isn’t this the way God’s economy works? He asks us to give to others; then as we give, those others end up giving back to us, and simultaneously God gives to the whole crowd.

It took 10 men 10 days to get the two jobs done, though they also found time to build a playground. Kids who’d never pumped a swing or climbed a jungle gym found this to be total entertainment. Once the playground had been completed, the swings never stopped.

Back at home our mission-trippers reported on their African adventure, and we saw how they’d been blessed even more than those they’d traveled to bless. We heard stories of kids who pitched in to prepare food, wash clothes, clean up and do whatever was needed, without complaint. They told us of older children rushing to help the younger, and even when all of them hoped for a turn on a swing, none pushed or whined to get one.

As we viewed the slide show of our 10 men’s 10 days, adult smiles and happy children dominated every frame, whether they were working or playing. Fresh water was facilitated, a house was constructed, a playground was built, and God poured blessing over the whole bunch.

You might say it was a Perfect 10.

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” (Hebrews 6:10)