In John's Gospel Jesus meets a woman at the well and speaks to her about the water that springs eternal within her, that being the loving grace of God through faith in Christ. The picture I've included in this entry is the fountain found at the cancer center where my dad is receiving his chemo treatments. He goes every three weeks, gets a host of powerful drugs and hopefully it will put his cancer into remission again. As we walked into the new center there was great light and a feeling of openness. As we moved into the area where he would receive treatment I saw folks who looked like they were just starting their treatments as well as folks who looked quite worn out by the treatments and having to live each day with cancer. Dad and I talked about a variety of things going on in the world...no we didn't solve any of the world's problems but did each weigh in on the Kevin Garnett trade to the Boston Celtics. The nurse who took care of dad was very friendly and caring. As I reflected on her vocation I realized just how much of a call it has to be to work with folks living with cancer. You pray that there will be great success against the disease but they also know that a certain number of folks are not going to win the battle against the cancer. The amazing gifts that God has given each of these folks! Thank you so much!

After the treatment, dad and I went to the cafeteria, they only serve healthy food, go figure! We ordered our food and went out outside and sat at a table to enjoy the beauty of a Maine day. I saw the fountain, heard the water as it raced in and out of the pond through the power of a pump, and realized that each falling drop brought oxygen into the pond (I think I've got my science right...). It then hit me...the water that Jesus offers to each of us brings life, movement, and beauty to all around us. It doesn't mean that we'll always be in places of great joy and happiness but that doesn't mean that we can't bring hope and enjoyment into such situations as we bring new life into what could otherwise be stagnant situations.

The rest of the day was spent still adjusting to not thinking about church but with a new awareness of the heroes in our world who battle diseases with hope and determination and those who care for these folks. I guess the reality is that we are all invited to be members of the priesthood of all believers by drinking from the water the springs eternal within us and heroes by living out God's call in our lives as we strive to bring the kingdom of God near for any all through our words, actions, attitudes, and thoughts.