By Peter Kobs | June 26, 2025

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus famously said: “You can’t step in the same river twice.” He believed that change is the only constant in the universe, just as new water flows constantly through a river. Perhaps the old guy was half right. The world we live in is constantly changing, sometimes for the better, often not. Every morning we step into a new version of the cosmic “river” that swirls around us, hoping it won’t sweep us away into a dark hole of discord and despair.

In the Gospel of John (7:37-39), Jesus shouted to the crowd during the last day of a Jewish Sukkot festival: “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” The Gospel writer goes on to explain parenthetically: “When he said ‘living water’ he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him.” As Christians, “rivers of living water” is a good metaphor for our lives, especially in times of pain, turmoil, loneliness or fear. 

We are no more immune to chaos than anyone else. Rockets fly, bombs fall, people die and fortunes fade–it’s on the news every night, as if we need those reminders. Closer to home, we may note the ravages of time on our aging bodies or the uncertainties affecting young families who are struggling to get by. “What does the future hold for us?” we wonder. “What does it hold for our children and grandchildren?” The only honest answer is: “I don’t know.” Nevertheless, amid all that uncertainty, one thing is always there: the calming water of the Holy Spirit, “flowing from our hearts,” as people who know that God still loves us no matter what’s happening “out there.”

Our challenge, then, is to share that living water in the world. That can mean any number of things. For me, a stressed-out 66-year-old newspaper reporter, it means being kind to people I meet during the day, including those I interview. Guess what? It turns out that public officials have feelings and vulnerabilities, too. They need to hear words like “thank you” and “nice job” just like the rest of us. The temptation to see such people as “evil” or “corrupt” or “heartless” is sometimes irresistible in our fractured, tribalized society. In fact, the very concepts of compromise and common ground seem to be melting away. Yet Jesus taught us to pray: “Lead us not into temptation…”

What if temptation isn’t always about sex, money, fame or power? What if it’s the temptation to hate someone based on their political views or values? Do we sometimes fall prey to the temptation to be morally superior or condescending to those who see things differently? And what if (gasp!) “those people” may actually be right from time to time? Throughout his ministry on Earth, Jesus preached humility and condemned self-righteousness: “Whoever honors himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be honored.”

(Matthew 23:12)

Let’s listen to that advice. Let’s all bravely step into “the rivers of living water” and share Christ’s loving kindness with those we meet…especially those with whom we may disagree. As the author John Harrigan so aptly wrote: “People need love the most when they deserve it the least.” On any given day, that “undeserving” person could be me – or even you.