It rained where I live about a week ago,.
There is a left hand turn in the road where we set out our garbage for pickup. That curve in the road is not level.
Whenever it rains, the water travels downhill until it reaches the curb by that turn where it can travel no farther.
There, the water collects and a variety of small animals take advantage of this bounty while it lasts.
This pool of water does not last very long though.
The summer heat causes the water to evaporate.
Birds and other small animals drink their portion as well.
As I took out the garbage the other morning I noticed that all that remained of the earlier rainfall was a very small puddle.
On this particular morning, the puddle was being guarded by a single bird whose instincts motivated it to drive away any other birds that wanted to drink from this rapidly dwindling supply.
As I was not in a particular hurry at the time, I decided to watch this drama as it unfolded.
A group of much smaller birds had gathered nearby intending to get a drink.
The larger bird stood next to the puddle guarding it.
Suddenly, the group of smaller birds instinctively put their plan into action.
One of their group approached the puddle which prompted the larger bird to chase it away.
Once both had taken flight, the birds that remained quickly assaulted the puddle and began to drink.
When the larger bird returned to defend its puddle, the smaller birds retreated to their safe distance.
There they were joined by their comrade who had just been driven away only a moment before.
Then, another member of this tiny raiding party made his approach knowing that he too would soon be driven away.
As soon as the larger bird drove away this new invader, the clever band of raiders moved in and began to drink again.
Time and again, I watched this process repeat itself.
The small birds each took their turn luring the larger one away leaving the water unguarded.
I concluded that the larger bird really accomplished nothing.
He merely expended energy in a futile attempt to protect what he intended to keep for himself.
In fact, he was so busy defending it, that I never actually saw him take so much as a single drink during this time.
The smaller birds seemed to have an unquenchable thirst as they continued to drink.
I finished my chore and left because I knew that eventually there would be no water left in this spot at all.
As I reflected on what I had witnessed, I was reminded of the account of Jesus and the woman at the well.
In this account, Jesus explained to the woman the difference between ordinary water and the living water that He offered.
John 4:13-14 (NET) - Jesus replied, "Everyone who drinks some of this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks some of the water that I give will never be thirsty again, but the water I give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life."
What a difference there is between ordinary water and the living water Jesus offers.
The living water that He offers us is plentiful and will never decrease in volume no matter how many partake of it.
Those that have partaken of His generous gift of living water are not to guard it and keep it for themselves.
In fact, He encourages believers to invite others to come to Him to come and drink of it as well.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com
There is a left hand turn in the road where we set out our garbage for pickup. That curve in the road is not level.
Whenever it rains, the water travels downhill until it reaches the curb by that turn where it can travel no farther.
There, the water collects and a variety of small animals take advantage of this bounty while it lasts.
This pool of water does not last very long though.
The summer heat causes the water to evaporate.
Birds and other small animals drink their portion as well.
As I took out the garbage the other morning I noticed that all that remained of the earlier rainfall was a very small puddle.
On this particular morning, the puddle was being guarded by a single bird whose instincts motivated it to drive away any other birds that wanted to drink from this rapidly dwindling supply.
As I was not in a particular hurry at the time, I decided to watch this drama as it unfolded.
A group of much smaller birds had gathered nearby intending to get a drink.
The larger bird stood next to the puddle guarding it.
Suddenly, the group of smaller birds instinctively put their plan into action.
One of their group approached the puddle which prompted the larger bird to chase it away.
Once both had taken flight, the birds that remained quickly assaulted the puddle and began to drink.
When the larger bird returned to defend its puddle, the smaller birds retreated to their safe distance.
There they were joined by their comrade who had just been driven away only a moment before.
Then, another member of this tiny raiding party made his approach knowing that he too would soon be driven away.
As soon as the larger bird drove away this new invader, the clever band of raiders moved in and began to drink again.
Time and again, I watched this process repeat itself.
The small birds each took their turn luring the larger one away leaving the water unguarded.
I concluded that the larger bird really accomplished nothing.
He merely expended energy in a futile attempt to protect what he intended to keep for himself.
In fact, he was so busy defending it, that I never actually saw him take so much as a single drink during this time.
The smaller birds seemed to have an unquenchable thirst as they continued to drink.
I finished my chore and left because I knew that eventually there would be no water left in this spot at all.
As I reflected on what I had witnessed, I was reminded of the account of Jesus and the woman at the well.
In this account, Jesus explained to the woman the difference between ordinary water and the living water that He offered.
John 4:13-14 (NET) - Jesus replied, "Everyone who drinks some of this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks some of the water that I give will never be thirsty again, but the water I give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life."
What a difference there is between ordinary water and the living water Jesus offers.
The living water that He offers us is plentiful and will never decrease in volume no matter how many partake of it.
Those that have partaken of His generous gift of living water are not to guard it and keep it for themselves.
In fact, He encourages believers to invite others to come to Him to come and drink of it as well.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com
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