The picture of the waterfall is for me a really apt parable of how our lives flow from the beginning when we were born towards our ending of this life but with the hope of being welcomed into something bigger and better. I find there is as much beauty and strength in this small water fall as in the Niagara Falls. The volume of water and majestic impact may be very different but it is the same action in both – and the gentler fall of water allows life to flourish at the edges, which the greater forces of water do not. In my imagination the flowing river with its still waters, swift streams and dramatic waterfalls mirrors our lives. There are times when we are dried up and empty and other times when we are flooding and bubbling over like the waterfall. Revelation 22:1-2 says:
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (NIV)
I have always had an image in my mind of when Christ was on the cross and his love poured out upon us, and the image is that this love pours upon us like a waterfall, also Christ offers us his living water, it may be deep within in us in the wells of our souls or bubbling over from us like the water coming down a waterfall, but as we continue to travel on life’s path may our lives be the channels of God’s living water in all places that seem dusty and dry spiritually – and if that means taking a leap of faith and going “over the waterfall” then let’s go! For we go in the power and the love of the one who poured out his all for us.
Grant us, O Lord,
Courage to accept new opportunities you place before us,
Wisdom to discern them,
Generosity of will to accept them,
And joy in responding to them
So that Your kingdom may come and Your will be done.
Amen.
Prayers for August by Denise Creed
Photo (Denise Creed): Dyffryn Gardens
