Reflection
Contemplating his Passion, Julian perceived the very being of Christ streaming across the universe: on earth, a sustaining force; in hell, destructive (liberating); restorative in heaven.
Her hell-image is not of floodwaters dousing flames, but kinetic energy: a mass of water bursting barriers, breaking shackles. I seriously misremembered the passage when on a dawn country-walk I found a bonfire abandoned, but still going.
A lot of water would be required to make that burnsite safe: most of the liquid would vaporise instantly. But when you’re standing next to the Thames, H2O is there in abundance. All I had to do was improvise a pail, decide where I could reach the river safely, and draw-carry-pour as many times as necessary.
Which gave me plenty of time to think how God’s love, a bucketful at a time, quenches despair, fear, rage – all those things, if we allow.
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The angel showed me Water-of-Life River flowing crystal-clear out of the throne of God. The banks were planted with Tree of Life, which produces abundant fruit year round. The leaves have universal healing properties.
Revelation 22:1-2
Look and see what this precious and plentiful flow of his own dear-worthy life-force can do!
(Julian of Norwich, ‘A Revelation of Love’ Chapter 12)
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Prayer
Flood my soul, O Lord!
As yet you only trickle down
Your healing power on me.
Bring on the day
You open high
the sluice-gate on all
this hurting world
You love so much.
Amen
With respect to John Donne
Action
Apparently carrying loads of water is good exercise for body, mind, and spirit – something about feeling the weight. At home push-ups against the furniture can have that relaxing effect. Or sitting with a weight in one’s lap. Not Julian’s book (too small): a cat; or a big Russian novel.
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A reflection from Jennifer Brooker ObJN, who has been a frequent visitor of Sarum College. She has a degree in Modern Languages from the University of Oxford and master’s degree in theology awarded by Durham University.
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