Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty gain, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Psalm 4:13-14
Every year for the last ten years my family has gathered where I grew up in Florida for Papa Camp. My dad started this tradition for his grandchildren to get together every summer. It is the highlight of the year and everyone starts counting down the days as soon as Christmas is over! Our week is full of excitement and fun. There is fishing, swimming, games, time at the beach, shopping and usually a “field trip” or two.This year we visited a pioneer settlement in Florida’s panhandle. (Did I mention that Papa Camp happens in the heat of summer?)
Dressed in our newest salmon colored Papa Camp shirts we loaded three cars and headed inland. We were greeted by a wonderful guide who led our crew of nine boys and one girl around the beautiful (Did I say HOT?) settlement. We all got a taste of what life was like in the hot Florida sun without air conditioning.We were finishing our tour, having seen some turn of the century farmhouses, the blacksmith’s shop, church, and school house. I was lagging behind trying to take in whatever breeze may have been blowing when I noticed everyone crowded around something that must have been pretty amazing.
There may have even been a little elbowing going on among some of the cousins to get a closer look. As I nudged my way forward to see what all the excitement was about, I saw my son pumping water into a bucket. The old pump was neat but honestly it was the fresh, cool water that was the appeal! We all splashed it on our necks and one of the more adventurous boys even dared to take a drink of the rust colored water coming from the spout.
Immediately, I thought about Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. In life, some-times we get so hot, tired and thirsty we are willing to try rusty water for relief. But nothing really satisfies our hearts’ desires except the true Living Water.
Jesus offers all of us refreshment for our hot, tired and weary souls that will never run dry. He promises when we drink from Him, the water He gives us becomes a spring of water, welling up to eternal life–a thirst-quenching spring of sweet water bubbling up, spilling over, touching others with the satisfying love and forgiveness of Jesus.
Gather around The Well with me … Taste and see that the Lord is good. (Ps. 34:8)