Water & Abundant Curiosity
Written by: Bryan Willkom
Water
Let’s reflect on water & the spiritual life.
71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water and scientists estimate that several times that amount is hidden inside the Earth’s mantle underground.
When we search for habitable planets in the universe, water is what we’re searching for.
We use water to cook, clean, garden and flush our toilets.
Water creates electricity and provides countless opportunities for recreation and fun.
Water powers our industrial, agricultural and day-to-day systems.
Bottled water is a $349 billion dollar industry globally and get this - Liquid Death, a brand that sells water in beer cans, is valued at $1.4 billion. IT’S JUST WATER… IN A CAN!!
The average American household uses 300 gallons of water per day and humans can only survive for 3-5 days without water…
So what’s the spiritual connection?
Jesus & Water
Jesus said these wild things like, “whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst again” and “the water I give him will become in us a spring of water welling up to eternal life" and “no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit” and “whoever believes in Me, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
Crazy imagery, right?
Water was central to Jesus’ miracles & ministry.
Jesus turns WATER into wine.
Jesus walks on WATER.
Jesus calms the storm on the WATER.
Jesus heals by pools of WATER and with WATER and mud.
Jesus washes His disciples feet with WATER.
Jesus baptizes with WATER.
Jesus forgives a woman by a well of WATER.
WATER, mixed with blood, flows from Jesus’ side on the cross.
Jesus tells stories about WATER (Luke 5, John 21)
Jesus’ invites fishermen to follow Him… Fish live in WATER.
Water and Spiritual Practices
I don’t claim to have any answers when it comes to the spiritual life, but I can’t help but be abundantly curious about Jesus’ fascination with water.
Water and faith. Water and healing. Water and life. Water and the spirit. Water and our health - both physical and spiritual. There’s a lot to wonder about here, but one we do know -
Water mattered to Jesus.
It’s why our JesusFit logo is a water bottle. Because just like water’s essential nature, healing properties and sustaining power… we’re convinced that spiritual practices play a similar role in our lives.
For us, Abundant Curiosity is one of those practices.
Practicing Curiosity
Abundant Curiosity is an invitation to wonder.
It’s a way of being in the world - helping us approach God, our neighbors, the world around us and even ourselves with a sense of humility, awe and radical openness.
Abundant Curiosity leaves room for questions, releases judgements and makes space for more than just the people we agree with. It’s permission to breathe, rest, doubt, ask, imagine and unlearn. It acknowledges a reality of life -
There’s A LOT we don’t know.
Abundant Curiosity adds another seat to the table.
Many of us were never taught to be curious re: faith and spirituality (so this is a new skill). The good news is, like drinking more water, it’s something we can practice.
Like free throws or reps in the gym, we can get better at being a curious people - not just minimally curious while still holding onto to our judgements, but ABUNDANTLY curious with a willingness to grow, change or God forbid - be wrong! (We say, “give your faith a workout” for a reason)
Worth Exploring
Jesus modeled the curious life.
He asked more questions than gave answers - which is great news, because I have have A LOT of questions. Like, why are people paying extra for Liquid Death? Why??!
Returning to water, did you know that 80% of our oceans are still unexplored. 80%!!! That’s a lot of ocean.
I’ll never fully understand the mysteries of water, Jesus or spiritual practice, but something tells me that, like our oceans, they’re worth exploring.
How about you? What makes you abundantly curious?
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Are you abundantly curious about how you can support our ministry?
Check out our ongoing fundraiser here:
https://www.getjesusfit.com/store/p/abundant-curiosity-water-bottle
