Water of Life

Although we often talk about seeking God, I find it more helpful to think in terms of becoming more aware of God’s presence in my life and in the world. The distinction may seem subtle, but I think it is important. Is God somewhere I am not, meaning that I need to go and find God, or is it a matter of needing to become attuned to God who is already present?

In a commencement address at Kenyon College, the writer David Foster Wallace told the following story: “There are these two young fish swimming along, and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, ‘Morning, boys, how’s the water?’ And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes, ‘What the hell is water?’”

It is important to maintain awareness that we are swimming in the sea that is God because it changes the way we approach life. For one thing, such awareness helps us be more courageous, as the psalmist notes: “The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?” (Ps 27: 1). Furthermore, when we swim in the same sea of God that Jesus did—that is, when we experience God as a loving, affirming, and liberating Father—then we can participate in the flow of God’s life by living joyfully and reaching out to heal and liberate others.

How do we go about becoming attuned to God’s presence? Tried and true tools that can help us include practicing prayer and gratitude every day and striving to develop humility. One way to combine all three attributes is to recite this simple prayer every time we use water throughout the day to quench our thirst, brush our teeth, cook, wash, or bathe: “Loving God, thank you for being my water of life!”