January 7, 2010

I Need a Drink

A new year. A new decade. A clean slate to start anew. With 2010 stretching out like a vast blank canvas, it feels like my first words written upon it should be revolutionary, monumental, significant. Yet the words and phrases bouncing around my mind sound incredibly ordinary and every day. One word bubbles to the surface of my consciousness and out through my typing fingers.

Thirst.

The other day I heard sloshing coming from the bathroom. In response to the familiar sound I yelled, “Tess! Stop drinking from the toilet!”  The slurping ceased and out emerged our furriest family member, our Yellow Lab. With water dripping from her jowls, she looked sheepish, but satisfied.

I glanced at her empty water bowl and understood the reason for the alternate beverage choice. See, when it comes to thirst, Tess will do whatever it takes to satisfy it, without regard for propriety (or taste apparently). She’ll drink from toilets, our pond out back, swimming pools, lakes, streams and even mud puddles. When she’s thirsty, she’s gotta have water… NOW!

As much as Tess’ liquid refreshment choices make me gag, I suppose her dog brain tells her what’s OK to drink because she’s never gotten sick. (Although I draw the line at the mud puddles.)

I want to be more like Tess. No, not to drink from toilets, but to be driven by thirst. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus describes such a thirst. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)

When I first read this passage, I didn’t understand how being hungry and thirsty was a blessing. Then I delved deeper and realized Jesus wasn’t talking about physical hunger or thirst, but spiritual. He wants us to have an unsatiable thirst for the Almighty. To love Him with all we have—body, mind and soul. To seek Him. To submit to Him and learn from Him. To open the door and let Him in. He doesn’t want us to snack, but to partake fully. Robustly. Passionately.

God promises that when we do, we will know Him in ways beyond our understanding and comprehension. And our souls will be satisfied.
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:37-38)
So that is my prayer for 2010, to develop an unquenchable thirst. For His word. For prayer. For worship. For fellowship. For reaching out in His name. I want to crave the Almighty more than I crave freshly baked brownies or a venti caramel macchiato. I pray this for you, too.

Let’s make a promise,though—no drinking out of the toilets.

15 comments:

Kelly said...

I promise! Although, it would be bad here as I use Clorox tabs in the toilet. Our new golden, Annie, hasn't tried that one yet.

But ON topic, how I do long to hunger and thirst for Jesus. And I do more all the time.

Great writing, Kelli!

Peggy said...

Kelli.....
Yes, God satisfies our thirst and everything we need. That is His promise and you put the words just so we can always remember that God is in control and will fulfill our every need.
Happy New Year dear friend.
Blessings and Love....Peggy

Terri Tiffany said...

Amen!! I feel I've got a new thirst this year--to lean onto Jesus more than I did last year by reading my Bible each day--not reandomly. Praying we have an great year!

Karen Hossink said...

Clean water for me! Promise. *grin*

This is such a great picture for me, Kelli. I'm keeping a food journal to "report in" to my trainer and I am trying so hard to not over-indulge with my eating. (Food and I have not always had a very healthy relationship...)
But to consider the freedom I have to go all out on Jesus! What a wonderful picture. Thank you.

Yes, Jesus. Fill me to overflowing!!!

Dan said...

Yet another reason why - if it turns out the Hindus are right and there really IS reincarnation - I want to come back as a labrador retriever. What unbridled freedom! Need a drink? Get a drink. Bored? Chase the cat. Hungry? Mosey over to the garbage can - they're always leaving snacks there. Feeling lonely? Jam your snout in someone's crotch - guaranteed attention! Ah, what a life. Well, except the part about getting castrated at three months old. There's something unsettlingly Old Testament about that.

apowers said...

Great entry!! More often I have the thirst, now I pray that He gives me enough time and will to stop and drink!!

Melanie said...

Me, too.
Melanie@Bella~Mella

Susan S said...

If it makes you feel better, my son used to suck on that little white knob at the base of the toilet. (While my other son was in potty training!) Ewww! I have to say that I love that hungry & thirsty sensation, it really pushes me to seek Him.

Cheryl Barker said...

"He wants us to do more than snack" -- great analogy, Kelli. I pray that He will give me a heart to love Him more, to crave Him as much as any physical craving. I noticed my friend Renae's motto for this year the other day -- More of Him in 2010. Amen!

Ginny said...

Great post! Sometimes I'm ravenous for His Word and other times I act like THE book is just an ordinary book and doesn't hold buckets of promises, cauldrons of comfort, and wonderful words to live by.

My blog has been good for increasing my time in the Word, and my time in prayer, and my search of comfort to pass on--which makes for the best days ever.

Thanks for your blog.

Carmen said...

Such a good post!! I completely agree. Love the picture, btw!

Sue J. said...

I'm reminded of a certain journey through Proverbs and the reiteration of the heart being the wellspring of life. We have a source within that can supply us with what we need. Yet, are our hearts in the right place? Thus, we pick right up with John....

When we are thirsty, we need to go to Him and be refilled; replenish that wellspring; keep it fresh and spilling over. What happens on the inside definitely shows on the outside.

[Eau de toilet is fragrant, but perhaps not the type of fragrant offering our Lord is seeking. (Maybe for dogs....?)]

Julie Gillies said...

This is hilarious, Kelli...but you make a good point. And we NEED that thirst, don't we? Thirsty people in a desert would do ANYTHING to find a drink. We need that same drive.

May this new year find us all especially thirsty for God's Word and His presence.

Praying you and your family have a blessed 2010.

P.S. LOVE the photo. Priceless!

Runner Mom said...

Love, love, love this!!! I want that unquenchable thirst to know more of my savior! Thank you sweet friend(and I LOVE the picture!!)

Hugs,
Susan
And, thank you so much for your precious card! It touched my heart so much! Love you!

Sarah said...

Great post with very good goals! Our dog drinks from the toilet too and she is ruining the enamel with her claws.

But, on the more inspirational side, what a great parallel to our lives.

Hope your new year is going well!