reflections...

Ever have one of those days were certain themes just seem to echo throughout? This morning I read John 4 and the story of the Woman at the Well. I was struck by how she gets so caught up in certain aspects of her conversation with Jesus that she almost missed the big picture. She had a very clear need: She had been living an unfulfilling life, bouncing around from one guy to the next. She was given a very specific promise: Christ would satisfy her and fill her with streams of living water. And she almost got really caught up in a Jew vs. Samaritan theological debate about where the best place for worship is instead of recognizing the Messiah right in front of her. (Thank goodness Jesus is gracious and she finally gets it!)

Later, at work one of my co-workers is telling me about her friend who is struggling right now. Her friend recognizes that Jesus is the only way and believes the truth about certain aspects of God. Yet, she is so caught up in her own life and desires that she is afraid to surrender. Yet again, we have a very clear need and a very specific promise...but the nitty gritty is getting in the way of the big picture. Her friend is so caught up in the specifics (which are for her what she might lose by becoming a Christian) that she neglects to see the living water that is offered right in front of her.

Tonight I read Augustine and this passage stood out to me:
"'Return, sinners, to your heart' (Isaiah 46:8) and adhere to Him who made you. Stand with Him and you will stand fast. Rest in Him and you will be at rest. Whear ater you going along rough paths? What is the goal of your journey? The good which you love (the earthly pleasures, things, relationships, etc) is from him. But it is only as it is related to Him that it is good and sweet. Otherwise it will justly become bitter; for all that comes from Him is unjulstly loved if He has been abandoned. With what end in view do you again and again walk along difficult and laborious paths? There is no rest where you seek for it. Seek for what you seek, but it is not where you are looking for it. You seek the happy life in the region of death; it is not there. How can there be a happy life where there is not even life?"

How can the good really be all that good without Him? For those of us who have "tasted and seen" we recognize that all the pleasures in the world amount nothing in comparison to Christ.