Week 1: Enter into Life

Introduction

The beginning of creation is all about God calling forth that which generates LIFE.  Light gives warmth and nurtures growth.  Earth provides a home for all life.  Without water, though, life isn’t possible.  Our human bodies are 60% water, and three days without water is death.


Our physical need for water is obvious.  Water hydrates and cleanses.  We need water to grow our food.  Waterways provide transportation and recreation.  Water serves a protective function in moats and boundaries.  These physical needs for water are reflected in our spiritual needs for water.  Spiritually, we need hydration, cleansing, and nurture.  Our spiritual life is a journey that needs guidance, protection, and beauty. 


We begin this study with an appreciation for our physical needs.  We also begin by becoming aware of our spiritual needs that require spiritual water.  In the weeks to come, remember that we are both/and:  we are physical bodies and spiritual beings, and both parts of us get thirsty.

This Week's Scripture:

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.


And God said, “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”  So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so.  God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.


And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so.  God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so.  The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good.  And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. 

— Genesis 1

Invitations:

  • Reflect on this week’s scripture.  Are there any words or ideas that especially resonate with you or challenge you?

  • This week notice all the ways that water shows up in your life.  Think beyond the kitchen sink and the Cedar River.  Tears from biting into a spicy pepper and the Iowa summer humidity count as well.  Maybe keep a list and see if you can name 100 ways!


  • How much water do you drink a day?  Give some thought to your need to hydrate.

  • Not all people are blessed with clean water.  Consider making a donation to an organization like water.org. 

This Week's
Prayer:

Creating God,

Blessing me with the gift of water is blessing me with life!


Grow my awareness of the goodness of this gift

for me and for all people,

for our bodies and our spirits.


Amen.