Are You Thirsty?

Thirst

Graphite/Charcoal

20" x 12"

Six thirsty horses have waited patiently over the past weeks for me to get the water "drawn" in their tubs.  Finally, quenching their thirst, they gulp and swallow, gulp and swallow in the hot sun.  What struck me as comical was the little colt sneaking under his mother's neck to see if the water in the adjacent tub was tastier or cooler.  Maybe it might even be Pepsi or Mountain Dew!  Or better yet, pure liquid chocolate!

As I've spent many hours working on this composition, I've thought a lot about the topic of thirst.  So here goes:

What are you thirsty for?  Do you sense desire and hunger for something more than what you currently experience?  St. Augustine stated that God has made us for Himself, and that our souls are restless until they find their rest in HIm.  Life offers a variety of ways to attempt to quench our thirsts.  But nothing satisfies ultimately except....God Himself.  We are created in God's image and to find in Him our life's supreme joy and satisfaction.  This summer as I stood at the rim of the Yellowstone River and watched the thundering Upper Falls, I was visually reminded of how thirst-quenching a relationship with God is and of the power of that in

one's life.  Jesus compellingly invites anyone to have their thirst and hunger quenched forever in Him.  He declared that He was the bread of life, that whoever came to Him would never be hungry again, and that whoever believed in Him would never be thirsty again.  And in Isaiah 55 He again invites:  

  Is anyone thirsty?

Come and drink---

Even if you have no money!

Come, take your choice of wine or milk---

It's all free!

Why spend your money on food that does

not give you strength?

Why pay for food that does you no good?

Listen to me, and you will eat what is good.

You will enjoy the finest food.

Come to me with your ears wide open.

Listen, and you will find life.

What a grand invite!  I'll drink to that!!

Go be astonished by beauty this week!

Michelangelo, my little art manikin, decided he had better get on with chores here in my studio wildlife sanctuary and do some thirst quenching before things got out of hand! 

Be brave and courageous!