Living Water

I suppose the very idea that the Holy Spirit is Living Water brings me some encouragement and sanity.  I do not think that I have all the answers to life - not in the least - and as I continue to study God and His Word, I realize I know much less than I had once thought.  This leaves me thirsty.  Yet, when I thirst, I also know that I will be given water.  We live in a dry and weary land where there is no water - nothing really quenches one's thirst - sex, power, money, status, popularity, security, religion - all leave us thirsty.  These are manifestations of idols that we worship in our hearts, believing them to be better than God, the only one who can bring satisfaction.
But - how?  Every single person has an idea of who God is and what he is like.  Everyone has a notion of what life is all about and what happens when we die.  But - no on knows for certain - even those who claim that they do know for certain.  It is all a mystery.  I come from a Protestant, Evangelical Christian background - one that has helped me a lot in understanding God's love and mercy, grace and peace.  I have come to see God as Yahweh, the God of Israel that manifested Himself in the man Jesus Christ - true God and true Man.  I have come to love the Holy Spirit and recognize His power and purpose in my life; He is the Living Water!  However, not only are there differing opinions about who God is among us Christians, but there are obviously numerous religions that have differing views on who God is. 
I wonder how we both as the Church (those who believe in Jesus) and those who hold to other religions can come together for the glory of God and the good of mankind.  This statement could get me into trouble in both circles --- those who are followers of Jesus have a hard time considering the idea that those who don't follow Jesus could offer much to either Christianity and/or the world as a whole...and those who are not followers of Jesus have a hard time with any assumption that Jesus is the only way to God.  For both sides - it comes down to "Who is Jesus?".  That is the question I'd love to discuss.  I feel like I have an understanding based on my current understandings/perceptions, but it certainly is not the fullest picture one can have.  I hold to the idea that there is mystery in all of this.  THEN - once we consider Who is Jesus - what do we do about that?  What do we do in response to Him?
I am currently in a class called "Generous Orthodoxy" where we discuss the problems with Church as it is today...broken up into Catholics, Orthodox, and myriad Protestant sects.  We discuss the notion of unity in the Body of Christ and our need to seek after Unity more than Truth (though neither is to be compromised).  We consider the implications of our disunity - particularly when it comes to loving people, helping the poor, and restoring the earth for God's glory.  It has been challenging for me to consider all of this because I grew up retreating to church in order to separate from the world - not considering the idea that we who are following Jesus (the Church) should be engaged IN the world.  Thus, ultimately, we as Christians need to consider how to come together as One - not giving up on doctrine or watering down our beliefs on certain issues, but rather to place LOVE and UNITY above doctrine and recognize how we all can still come together as a family in order to restore the world for Christ. 
Then - engaging the world - how will we interact with people of different religions, backgrounds, beliefs?  Can we as Christians recognize that we could actually learn from others?  And, if we humbly listen - first to other sects of Christianity...then to those who do not claim Christianity at all - what could we learn?  I suppose that is why I have started this blog...I am a Thirsty Theologian who wants to drink deeply of Christ (the ultimate source of joy and satisfaction).  I also thirst for a greater uderstanding of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit (Yahweh- the Triune God)...and that means I have to engage with those around me and consider all that is said.  I need to learn to listen.  So, I apologize for the length of this first entry, but it provides a foundation of my thought right now and what I would like to glean from doing this.  If there are any others out there who are thirsty, let's sit by the well together.