A Good Watering

A friend was coming over to spend some time on my porch.
I was looking forward to the blessing of our conversation.
I was looking forward to the respite that time with a friend can provide.
I was looking forward to sitting on my porch swing while she sat on the rocker.

Isn’t it funny how you have your own seat?
Isn’t it funny how you tend to sit in the same seat in the places you frequent?
It’s not as if there is a gold plaque declaring the seat to be yours.
It just seems to be understood somehow.

My friend sent me a text to tell me she was on her way.
I sent her a text and told her to come to the porch.
I got out some cool water and put it in mason jars.
My porch is shady; it is a porch just begging to be used.

I remembered that I never watered my plants on the porch that morning.
I had an appointment and wanted to get my walk in before I left.
I only had time to water the plants on my sunny deck and in the front of my house.
I did not have enough time to water the plants on my side porch.

I decided to give them a quick watering before my friend came.
I was careful to keep the water contained and not splash where we would be sitting.
I went down the line and watered the three hanging baskets.
Then I saw it.

I saw the one plant that sits on top of a table.
It is a beautiful impatiens plant.
Impatiens do not like full sun; they prefer a bit of shade.
Impatiens like to be watered so their leaves are lush and green.

I looked over at the impatiens plant and saw that all the leaves had wilted.
The red flowers were drooping.
It was the saddest looking plant I had ever seen.
I was annoyed at myself for failing to water the porch plants in the morning.

Hospitality is not about perfection.
Hospitality is about sitting on the porch drinking ice water in mason jars.
Hospitality is about staring at a droopy plant and admitting you forgot to water it.
Hospitality is being real and simply showing up.

I watered the dropping impatiens plant when I watered the hanging baskets.
I gave it a good long drink, as I used to say when I was little.
The plant still drooped, looking sad and forlorn.
I forgot about the plant when my friend arrived.

We sat and talked for over two hours, which only felt like minutes.
There was so much to say.
Hummingbirds fed at the red mason jar feeder.
My friend saw a fox near the old farm wall that runs along our property.

When the sun on the south side of my house sneaked around the corner of my porch, I moved.
I felt the sun on my shoulders as I sat on the swing.
I moved to the other rocker, next to my friend.
It was then I saw the drooping plant, which was behind me as I sat on the swing.

Look at my plant! I said to my friend, excitedly.
I had pointed out the sad condition of my plant when she first arrived.
I had just put the hose away right before she came.
Now, a few hours later, the good watering plumped up the leaves; the plant was not drooping.

The plant looked vibrant and healthy.
My plant only needed a good watering.
Once my plant was watered, it sprang to life.
It looked the way it looks every other day, even though I know the state it was in hours before.

On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “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.” By this he meant the Spirit whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time, the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. (John 7:37-39)

The Feast was the Feast of Tabernacles.
During the feast of Tabernacles, there was a water pouring ceremony.
The use of water symbolized the blessing of adequate rainfall for the crops.
Jesus used this occasion to make a public invitation.

Jesus invited the people to come to Him and drink.
Streams of living water, which is the Holy Spirit, will flow from within the person who believes.
Jesus describes the need, the direction, and the action.
Thirsty. Come to Him. Drink.

Come all you who are thirsty, come to the waters…(Isaiah 55:1)

Just like the drooping plant on my porch, we all need a good watering.
The Holy Spirit is the streams of living water within us who believe.
Jesus is the source of that living water.
The invitation is still the same.

Are you thirsty?
Do you know someone who is thirsty for the risen Lord Jesus.
Come to Him and drink.
A good watering awaits you.