Encountering Water and Desert in Advent
Guest Writer: Dr. Elizabeth-Anne Stewart
Banks of the Jordan River
We need both the desert and water, that time of aridity, and that time of refreshment and cleansing. These seeming opposites belong together: on its own, the desert is a fearsome place that can leave us at the mercy of sand storms, scorpions, wild beasts, night terrors, and agonizing thirst; on its own, water lets us float aimlessly or else tugs at us relentlessly until we are swept away by powerful currents or else battered by tempestuous waves.
To linger in the desert too long places us at the mercy of demons, while to dive deep into unknown waters can lure us into forgetfulness and oblivion. Alone in the desert, we are left to face our worst selves and to relive the pain of lives past-- forgotten memories of what we have done and what we have failed to do, of promises made and broken, of relationships that ended with a bang or a whimper, of opportunities missed.
Alone in the water, we lose all agency as the waves and rippling currents do what they will, lulling us into complacency or leaving us struggling for survival...
But together, desert and water are balms for the soul. In silence and solitude, we remember; in water, we are "re-membered" or made whole again. The desert brings insight, allowing us to see how we have been responsible for much of our pain, primarily because of our attachments and ego needs; at the same time, it allows us to understand why others may have harmed us, to see how their own wounded selves have caused them to be cruel, unjust or indifferent. For its part, water washes over us, cleansing our hearts and minds, soothing our aching limbs, and accepting our tears of grief and remorse.
Just as in the days of John the Baptist, the people of Judea flocked to the desert to be immersed in the waters of the River Jordan, so we, too, need to seek out both desert and water, both insight and forgiveness. This desert/water immersion is neither an empty ritual nor a mere obligation. It is not about trying to feel good, getting rid of guilt and regrets, being "saved," becoming righteous, or preparing for Judgement Day. Instead, it is an opportunity to encounter the God who dwells in both desert and water, to be with the One who was driven by the Spirit into the desert to find his mission and identity, and who had the power to calm turbulent waters. In his company, we look to the desert to find life, not death; at his bidding, we plunge into the maelstrom to learn to walk on water...
For all its glitter and frenetic activity, Advent is a desert season. Still, while we in the northern hemisphere celebrate a snowy wonderland in our carols, it is the living water that brings life to the desert--the inexhaustible streams of God's love and mercy that are ever-present in those places where even angels fear to tread, flowing through the wasteland, the scorched earth and the parched lands...
Elizabeth Stewart
Joanna joannaseibert.com
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