The fountain

The Fountain

Don't say, don't say there is no water
to solace the dryness at our hearts.
I have seen
the fountain springing out of the rock wall
and you drinking there. And I too
before your eyes
found footholds and climbed
to drink the cool water.
The woman of that place, shading her eyes,
frowned as she watched -- but not because
she grudged the water,
only because she was waiting
to see we drank our fill and were
refreshed.
Don't say, don't say there is no water.
That fountain is there among its scalloped
green and gray stones,
it is still there and always there
with its quiet song and strange power
to spring in us,
up and out through the rock.

Denise Levertov 1923 - 1997 
Poems: 1960-1967

Julianne's ponderings

There are several questions posed in the Bible which recur over and over in human existence. “Is the Lord among us or not?” is one of those questions.

The Israelite people were thirsty and judging by his reaction to their complaining, so was Moses. They had become understandably anxious about the supply of water which they needed for life. As soon as Moses asked God, he was told where to find water. God was waiting to help as soon as they asked. This suggests that God doesn’t intrude in our lives but waits to be invited. When we find ourselves in trouble, we often assume God has deserted us. It is extraordinary how deeply ingrained in us is the idea that when things are going well, God is blessing us and that when we are in trouble, God has deserted us. It certainly feels like that.

The Samaritan woman had had what for many of us would have been a hell of a life. It was a time when women were at the mercy of men for survival. She wasn’t an ancient Elizabeth Taylor, a conclusion we often jump to when we hear of her five husbands and present de facto. If she had been divorced several times, it was not she who had initiated these. She could not. Only a man could do that and with relative ease and no responsibility. She may have been widowed several times.

How can we know if God is among us?

Water of Life

water of a new life

Last night as I was sleeping
I dreamt—marvelous error!—
that a spring was breaking
out in my heart.
I said: Along which secret aqueduct,
Oh water, are you coming to me,
water of a new life
that I have never drunk?

Last night as I was sleeping,
I dreamt—marvelous error!—
that I had a beehive
here inside my heart.
And the golden bees
were making white combs
and sweet honey
from my old failures.

Last night as I was sleeping,
I dreamt—marvelous error!—
that a fiery sun was giving
light inside my heart.
It was fiery because I felt
warmth as from a hearth,
and sun because it gave light
and brought tears to my eyes.

Last night as I slept,
I dreamt—marvelous error!—
that it was God I had
here inside my heart.

-Antonio Machado 1875-1939 

from http://www.edgeofenclosure.org/lent3a.html