Scuttlebutt, Refreshment and Gossip
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According to
ezines@arcamax.com: scuttlebutt (noun) - 1 : A drinking fountain on a ship. 2 : A cask on a ship that contains the day's supply of drinking water. 3 : Gossip; rumor. Scuttlebutt comes from scuttle, "a small opening" + butt, "a large cask" -- that is, a small hole cut into a cask or barrel to allow individual cups of water to be drawn out. The modern equivalent is the office water cooler, also a source of refreshment and gossip.
The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. [John 19-32-34]
who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ [1 Peter 3:21-22]
I know . . . scuttlebutt doesn’t seem an appropriate word to be included in a devotional! I hope I’ll be able to explain how this devotion developed. I slept in this morning and did not have my full time before work to sip coffee, pray, check email and go through my normal morning routine. I did, however, intentionally save the daily “word a day” email I received when I read what the word was. I get it: you’re not satisfied with my explanation yet!
What occurred to me this morning is how fascinating words are—and how important. The origin of words has always been of great interest to me; I assume it is part of my crazy compulsion as a writer. Water. It’s just a word. Refreshment is certainly a word one would commonly associate with water. Gossip? Well, it might be a stretch to associate the two words, unless you do think of the office water cooler example.
In ancient times the equivalent of the water cooler was a town well or nearby stream or river. Women walked together to the town well or stream every day to draw water into jugs to carry home for cooking and cleaning. As they walked, they also took advantage of the opportunity to get caught up on all the gossip, or to start some of their own.
Water also calls to mind floods, especially lately, with the triple threat of hurricanes across the southern coast of the U.S. Noah’s Ark comes to mind as well. John baptized Jesus with water in the Jordan River. Jesus used water to wash the feet of His disciples. Water-mingled blood poured out of the dead body of Christ on the Cross.
Scuttlebutt is what we are interested in and participate in when we live of the world. We are “of” the world when the day to day activities of “famous” people becomes an obsession, when we watch the predicted course of Hurricane Ike and begin to think that surely God intends to end the world again with water—in spite of His promise. Scuttlebutt is what was used to “legally” crucify Christ. Scuttlebutt goes on everyday in church congregations, in schools and offices, in warehouses and executive suites. Scuttlebutt is what distracts us from what is important in and to our lives.
When we live
in the world and not
of the world, we seek the refreshment of the Living Water. When we live
in the world and not
of the world, we thirst for the water Christ offered the Samaritan woman at the well the water that springs up into eternal life. In the world we often feel drenched and soaked through with the cares and worries of the world. We also remember that Peter began to sink in the lake when He took his eyes of Jesus.
When we live
in the world and not
of the world, we know that even when we feel we’re going under for the last time, when we’ve breathed out our last breath before drifting soundlessly to the bottom of the sea, Jesus will reach out to save us. He is to be our focus and our foundation.
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. [John 7:37-39]
My prayer today is that you remember He is the Living Water that springs up in us to eternal life. And that you come to Him and drink.
Mary
Labels: baptism, baptize, Cross, gossip, Holy Spirit, Jesus, John, living water, scuttlebutt, water
Seek the Cross
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Matthew 24:10-13 NIV
At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Is it just me, or could this have been written last week? I imagine that anyone reading these words could apply them to their own current times. Mankind doesn’t ever really change! Two thousand years after Christ we have Christians preaching the “prosperity gospel” and wars all over the world and corruption, deceit, hatred and greed. We just don’t learn, do we?
There’s nothing wrong with working to be as prosperous as possible as long as the intention is to give that prosperity back to God and his world. I so admire Rick Warren, the author of “The Purpose Driven Life.” He started what is now Saddleback Church with his wife in their living room. It’s now a multi-million dollar a year operation. But they haven’t lost sight of their purpose.
He’s personally acquired tremendous wealth from his books. As he acquired more wealth, he began paying back to the church the salary they have paid him over the years. At this point, he and his family are now tithing 90% of their income and living on 10%. That’s a stark contrast to flying around in multi-million dollar private jets, living in a mansion and owning several very expensive cars.
Again, I’m trying not to judge these folks, but it makes me want to examine them and their lifestyles in a little more depth. Speaking of trying not to judge . . . the latest poll reported on the news last night indicates that 65% of the country disapproves of the President and his performance. I probably don’t have to tell anyone which side of that poll I fall into. My hope is that if that if that many people are not satisfied with the current administration, they will get out and vote in the next election—for anybody—just vote!
The Middle East is a hotbed as I’m typing. I’m convinced that ardent prayer is the only explanation as to why we haven’t experienced a nuclear war! Spoiled celebrities make the “news” headlines and the continent of Africa is still plagued with genocide, HIV/AIDS, famine and abject poverty.
I don’t mean to be sounding off a doom and gloom message! I’m really just ticking off the things that ran through my mind as I read this passage. The media outlets are “loving” all the turmoil and anxiety, fear and violence in the world. It makes good copy. And we buy into the hype. Even faithful Christians can get caught up in it all.
Our only hope is the Cross! We need to surround ourselves with Christians and participate in a faith community in order to stay focused on what really matters. We are not powerless. We have the might and strength of our God within us and around us who longs for us to be one who makes a difference by how we live our lives, in simple ways—large and small.
My prayer today is that you turn to the Word of God to find truth and understanding. And that you seek the Cross before all else.
Mary
Labels: Africa, Christ, Christian, Cross, famine, genocide, God, HIV/AIDS, war
