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Come and Drink
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Come and Drink
John 7:37-38
If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water. NASU
One of the saddest things about talking to so many Christians and visiting different churches is seeing how many miserable Christians there are. I’m not talking about those Christians who are in the middle of trauma or tragedy and are in a legitimate season of grief or shock. I’m talking about Christians who have made a career out of being miserable. You know who they are. You may even be one. These Christians grumble their way through church business meetings, whine their way through prayer services, and scowl their way through praise hymns on Sunday morning. They may have come to Jesus for salvation, but they are dying of thirst and in need of long cool daily drink of living water.
In traveling across America, many delightful opportunities come my way. I pass mountains and parks that promise glorious views and scenic trails. I stay in campgrounds and hotels with swimming pools and hot tubs. I pass churches that have choirs that sing like angels and there is a new sunrise and sunset every day. Flowers bloom a vast array of colors that are impossible to describe and birds sing beautiful melodies that can’t be notated or duplicated. Lakes and beaches offer opportunities for swimming, boating, parasailing, body surfing, and boogie boarding. People share interesting stories, encouragement, and laughter. Street fairs, carnivals, and amusement parks tease me with smells of cotton candy, sausages cooked with peppers and onions, and soft gooey cinnamon buns while they titillate me with fast joy rides up, over, and upside down. Everywhere I turn, the world lays fun, adventure, laughter, joy, and beauty at my feet.
Recently, while traveling, I realized I wasn’t enjoying myself. I usually dance my way through life savoring every gust of wind and refreshing raindrop. Suddenly, I was going through the motions of life, doing my work, moving my camper every day, but I wasn’t having fun. I wasn’t miserable but I also wasn’t delighted with the great adventure of life.
At first, I thought I was tired so I found ways to rest. I took a day off, got more sleep, and sat by calm water. I still didn’t feel any better. Then, I decided I was lonely. I planned a weekend with my husband and another with friends. I got a little better but after a couple of days, I was back to thinking of life as a daily grind. This wasn’t a feeling I was used to and I was at a loss about what do it about. Finally, after exhausting my resources to solve the problem, I had a novel idea. I decided to ask God what was wrong.
It’s about time, I felt Him whisper. His answer was immediate and direct. I had gotten lazy. He couldn’t delight me unless I reached out and took what He offered.
I’d been working hard, talking to people, remembering to pray, meditate, and read the Bible every day, going to church, and writing stories. I was being diligent about my work but my life stopped there. I had yet to put on that bathing suit that was taking up space on my shelf. A hot tub was useless unless you got into it. I’d driven through many parks and mountains, rolled up to an overlook to glance at the view, but hadn’t walked the trail that promised so much adventure. I’d driven right by fairs, carnivals, and amusement parks without stopping and the one where I did stop, I’d skipped all the rides. It had been two weeks since I’d seen a movie, watched a television show, or even listened to my worship CD’s. I’d snapped pictures of flowers without taking a moment to enjoy them and had run from the rain instead of singing in it. It really was true that “all work and no play made Jack a dull boy” or Cheryle a dull girl, as the case may be.
I was delighted with that answer. This was going to be fun. I spent the night in West Virginia at a resort state park (see the Photo Gallery - West Virginia – Davis – Blackwater Falls State Park) where Belle and I hiked to the waterfall. I swam laps in the pool, relaxed in the hot tub, and shared a mountain sunset with a Christian couple from Ohio. When I got back to the camper, I was giddy with exhilaration. It was later than I usually started writing but my fingers flew on the keyboard. I still got my work done and my joy had returned.
I paid my $35 to get into Holiday World in Santa Clause, Indiana and put on my bathing suit. I floated around the Lazy River while sharing God with the people bumping into my inner tube. I flew down the log flume and enjoyed the cool water splashing me in the midst of a scorching day. While riding the rapids, I screamed with the other children on the ride and groaned when the water fall dumped buckets of water on me. I sang gospel hymns and country tunes with the entertainers with wet hair plastered to my head and passed right by the evil tempting cotton candy. It was a day to remember.
The best part was rediscovering my Christian CD’s. I tried to remember what day I’d stopped listening to them. It had probably been a couple of weeks. I’d gotten in the habit of stopping at Cracker Barrel for books on tape and for some reason, I’d just dropped my music. I enjoy the books on tape but the music makes my heart soar. I could enjoy both. I went to a movie, found a television and watched a show, and played a game of pinball. Through all of this play, God sent me opportunities to minister and evangelize. God does not intend for my life, or me, to be dull but I have to come to Him and drink.
As I sit here, thinking about the miserable Christians that I talk with every day, I wonder if they too just got lazy. Did they get so busy with their blessings and callings that they forgot to sip from the water fountain of living water? Maybe they even forgot that life was supposed to be fun. Were they passing the lakes, beaches, and pools without getting wet and had they ever experienced the thrill of a boogie board? Were they singing the hymns in church without breathing in the words or letting the melodies soothe their souls? Were they even going to church anymore? Did they wake up every morning and leave for work without hearing a living word from God? I suspect that like me, they may have stopped doing the work it takes to embrace life.
My bout with laziness was short. I’m used to enjoying life and unwilling to grow dull. My joy returned as soon as I partook of the banquet God offered. As I floated down the flowing lazy river, my innermost being began flowing with the living water. Tonight, as I began dashing through the driving windy rain, I remembered my lesson. I slowed down, took off my shoes, savored rain and wind on my face, and splashed in the puddles.
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