24th July 2011 – 6th Sunday After Pentecost

One of my favorite spiritual writers (or Christian mystics) is Anthony De Mello who tells a story about some people who were on a raft off the coast of Brazil.

They were perishing from thirst, because, as you know, ocean water is too salty to be safely drinkable. What they did not know, however, was that the water they were floating on was fresh water. A nearby river was coming out into the sea with such force that it went out for a couple of miles, so they had fresh water right there where they were. But they had no idea. “In the same way,” says De Mello, “we’re surrounded with joy, with happiness, with love. Most people,” he concludes, “have no idea.” And that’s true.

I was reminded of this story as I shared discussion with a group of people who were pondering on the reason that people are not turning to the church and God when they are seeking after meaning.

There are a lot of hurting, shattered people in this world for whom help is at hand if they only knew it. There are a lot of lonely people looking for deep abiding love and it is within reach even only they would take hold of it. The treasure is just waiting to be discovered.

Let those who have ears hear!

Many Blessings

Reverend Shan