finding water

Our reading is from the story of Moses and the Israelites wandering in the wilderness after escaping from Egypt:

There was no water where they camped, so the people gathered around Moses and Aaron and complained: “It would have been better if we had died in front of the Lord’s Tent along with the other Israelites. Why have you brought us out into this wilderness? Just so that we can die here with our animals? Why did you bring us out of Egypt into this miserable place where nothing will grow? There’s no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates. There is not even any water to drink!” Moses and Aaron moved away from the people and stood at the entrance of the Tent. They bowed down with their faces to the ground, and the dazzling light of the Lord’s presence appeared to them.

The Lord said to Moses, “Take the stick that is in front of the Covenant Box, and then you and Aaron assemble the whole community. There in front of them all speak to that rock over there, and water will gush out of it. In this way you will bring water out of the rock for the people, for them and their animals to drink.” Moses went and got the stick, as the Lord had commanded.

He and Aaron assembled the whole community in front of the rock, and Moses said, “Listen, you rebels! Do we have to get water out of this rock for you?” Then Moses raised the stick and struck the rock twice with it, and a great stream of water gushed out, and all the people and animals drank.

Numbers 20.1-11

That reading reminds me of a song from a long time ago. Rick Wakeman did an album based on the story by Jules Verne, Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Three explorers go down into the earth through an Icelandic volcano. After travelling for a long while, they are desperately thirsty. Then they hear the distant sound of water – a huge torrent. And as they search they hear it now much closer – behind the rock wall of the passageway – a subterranean river. They take their hammers and drive a hole though the rock and a stream of water spurts through, saving them.

Sometimes there is indeed water beneath the surface, waiting to be discovered. I remember of documentary about a community in North Africa. The land was arid desert, but deep shafts were sunk and brave individuals went down to mine for water, water which would bring life to the community.

In our Lent retreat we are thinking about our outer life and our inner life. There are times when our outer life can feel dry and lifeless, and we become desperately thirsty for something that will bring change and renewal and new life. When Jesus talks about water to a woman he met at a well, he promises that those who trust in him will find a spring of living water deep within themselves, flowing out into their lives.

So how can we bring water out of the rock? How do we ‘dig down’ to this living water?

I think it begins with recognising our need. Noticing our thirst for something more. Our longing for something which will bring new life to us, and to others. And bringing that desire to God.

Then we need to listen, to pay attention to our inner life – to what is going on beneath the surface. Where can we feel something stirring in us? Can we sense the movement of the spirit? Can we hear something behind the wall, as it were? That may mean making some space for prayer and reflection, for stillness and silence

Jesus says, ‘Seek, and you will find.’ If we bring our longing to him, and pay attention, then we may sense an invitation – some inner suggestion of something to try, a path to follow, a place to dig.

And then the next step is trust. Striking the rock like Moses. Opening up a space inside. Digging down, like the water miners in the desert. We make space to do some mining with God – maybe like on a retreat or a quiet day, or making time in some other way. We might be drawn to join other seekers, or to step out in partnership with God in acts of love and service. We listen to where we feel the invitation, and we then ask for God’s help to respond.

The promise is that if we seek in this way, bringing our desire, listening for the invitation, and responding as we can, with God’s help, then the water of life will flow, in us, and through us. As the children’s song says, ‘Soon there will be water rising from the wellshaft, spilling from the bucket as it comes.’

Jesus, we are thirsty. 
We long for your living water, to bring us new life.

Please show us how to make space to listen… where to dig… 

Clear away all that blocks the springs of your life in us.
May the energy of the Spirit open up a channel inside us 
for your life to flow.

May we be refreshed and renewed by you. 
May our life be irrigated by your love
and may your love bring new growth in us, 
and overflow into the lives of others all around.