Gardening the Soul: Free Water

Wall Drug Store in Wall, South Dakota has become a “must-stop” for many western family vacations. The store built its business by offering free ice water to scorched sightseers. (Did other establishments charge for it?!) God also offers free water:

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters;
and you, who have no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk, without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy.
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. (55:1-3)

I am repeatedly invited to come, to drink from these free waters. These waters expand into a banquet—the richest of fare. A number of years ago while living in Tampa we were invited to a lavish party to use up a budget surplus at one of the city's country clubs. What a feast! There were bowls of fresh fruits—cantaloupe, strawberries, pineapple; freshly baked breads and muffins; bowls of diverse salads—a tangy potato salad, an exquisite crab salad; plates loaded with crisp, southern fried chicken; a rack of medium-rare prime rib; numerous vegetables: steamed broccoli, honey-glazed carrots, etc. But the prize for my palate was the seafood: mounds of boiled shrimp, steamed crabs, broiled lobster tails, fried grouper. As a guest it was all free, with only one limit—the size of my stomach! But God calls us to come to an even more extravagant feast: eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. This “soul food” is eternally more delectable than an all-you-can-eat gourmet buffet. It alone will quench my deepest thirsts.

Isaiah's invitation is sent to all you who are thirsty. Though all human seedlings are thirsty, not all recognize their thirst. A few years ago I was explaining the course requirements to the students in Intro to the Bible when one asked: "Why do I need to study the Bible? I figure that on a scale of one to ten, my life rates about a six or a seven. Why do I need this book and this class?” What a challenge! I was requiring these students to sacrifice their Saturday mornings for class, asking them to read large sections of the Bible and other books, assigning a lengthy research project. But if I couldn't explain the relevance of this work, I would have lost one student, and possibly, many more.

I screamed a silent "Help!" toward heaven to answer my student's sincere question. God brought this answer to my mind: "During the early years of my marriage I thought I was a pretty good husband. If I had graded our marriage I would have given it about a "B"—that was averaging my "A" and Cathy's "C"! Each time we had a conflict, Cathy ended up tearfully confessing her faults. I graciously accepted her apologies and promised to pray for her. But during my second year in seminary, I enrolled in a course on Biblical family life. And as I was exposed to God's perspective on marriage, I saw that it was my life that was parched: "Lord, I am the one who needs the most help. Change me." I explained to my student that apart from God’s word we can be deceived. But when we drink regularly from God’s word, it shows  who we are and who we can become. Drink up!