All Washed Up – Christmas Day 12
I, Davezelenka [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
Mark 1:9-11
The Baptism of Jesus
9 About that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 As soon as Jesus came out of the water, he saw the sky open and the Holy Spirit coming down to him like a dove. 11 A voice from heaven said, “You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you.”
Our power shower has not been working since before Christmas. Don’t worry, we do have an over the bath shower, so we are getting clean, but it is a rather pathetic stream of water. I miss the gushing, invigorating, cleansing power of the other one. Then you feel really clean and refreshed.
By Photo by and ©2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) (Own work (Own Picture)) [GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
Water is a powerful metaphor.
Henri Nouwen speaks of his experience at Lourdes. I have to say that when we went to Lourdes it was scorching hot, and we spent most of the day searching out water to drink – which is an analogy in itself!
Perhaps as we have made this journey with Nouwen we have realised where there are dry places in our lives that need refreshing. Perhaps we have seen the parts that could do with a good clean. Perhaps we have taken on refreshment for the journey to come, or known fresh blessings pouring into our lives where we are. Whichever it is for you, I pray that you will know that power of God washing over and through you.
As we come to the end of our Advent and Christmas readings, my prayer is for God to wash over me, cleanse me and renew me – for all he has for me on this continued journey.
For the prayer, I’m going to use the word of a hymn by Dougie Brown:
RIVER, WASH OVER ME
Cleanse me and make me new.
Bathe me, refresh me and fill me anew,
River wash over me.
Spirit, watch over me,
Lead me to Jesus’ feet.
Cause me to worship and fill me anew,
Spirit, watch over me.
Jesus, rule over me,
Reign over all my heart.
Teach me to praise You and fill me anew,
Jesus, rule over me.
Dougie Brown
Copyright © 1980 Thankyou Music
This year for Advent – and into Christmas, some friends and I are using Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen. You’re welcome to join us on this journey. Feel free to comment here, or on Twitter using #adventbookclub
Also blogging on the #adventbookclub are:
http://www.likeasthehart.me.uk/
http://clairemaxim1.wordpress.com/
Pam's Perambulation 
thanks Pam. As you’ll see from mine, I went off on a completely different tack – and i’m grateful to you for your insights. I’ve really enjoyed discovering that just because I don’t immediately see things the way other people do doesn’t necessarily mean I’m an idiot… 🙂
It was always drummed into us at college, “There are many meanings…” What it means to one today, might not be what it means to someone else, or indeed themselves next time they read it.
That’s what’s so brilliant about God’s word, there are so many layers to it, it continues to speak in different times and places.
Thank you for sharing your journey
[…] what did Pam write as we come to the last day of this […]
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