“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”—John 7:38 (NIV)

I don’t mind taking my car in for regular maintenance at the dealership because the waiting area is so pleasant with gourmet coffee, great spaces to work, and comfy chairs to read or just enjoy the artwork on the walls. 

On this day, I brought my computer, but I didn’t open it as I snuggled into one of the chairs. Today I needed some maintenance myself; time to reflect and ask God for strength to handle some difficult challenges ahead. That’s when I noticed a painting that caught my attention because it reminded me of places where I always feel closest to God: sitting by a mountain stream and watching the water flow past me, pooling tranquilly in some spots and crashing into rocks in other spots. The stream in the painting seemed to hit more rocky places than tranquil ones. A metaphor for my life ahead? 

I got up to get some coffee, choosing a chocolate mocha, a treat that I sipped slowly before returning to my chair, and that’s when the most amazing thing happened. When I looked at the picture again, I saw something totally differently. Instead of the water flowing away from me, I saw the stream coming toward me, bringing the living water to flow through me and strengthen me for the journey over the rocks ahead. I was still staring at the picture, absorbing the powerful change in my perspective, when a serviceman found me. “Your maintenance work is done,” he said. “You should be good to go.”