Psalm 116:13 – I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. (NRSV)

I went to church on Sunday morning to get my cup filled. The music was inspiring, the fellowship was rich, and the sermon was powerful! Our pastor is beginning a sermon series entitled "Our Walk to Jerusalem". I'm excited about following Jesus to Jerusalem. Great music! Wonderful, loving fellowship! Soul-searching sermons!

On Monday morning, I walked out our carport door into our neighbour's yard and began my daily vigil of watching a construction crew remodelling my neighbour's house and recreating the yard. I watched some men manoeuvre heavy machinery, while others worked with small hand tools. In the process, I learned that every man (and woman) has a job to do. The heavy equipment operator could not operate the compound mitre saw, and vice versa.

I learned that curse words are a no-no on this job site, and that there has not been a beer can on the grounds from any sub-contractor during this year-long project. The full crew was there on Monday morning with their radio tuned to a gospel radio station. Their conversation centred around the Sunday worship service. I was really encouraged!

Lunch time came, and as I went back across the yard, I realized that these ordinary folks doing everyday work really "filled my cup" unexpectedly this week. I wanted to sing:

Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!

Because I can't sing a note, I settled for quoting today's verse, which gave reason for Richard Blanchard's now famous song. I also ran through my mind what Jesus said to the woman at the well in Samaria:

John 4:14 – Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life. (NRSV)

Prayer: Our cups run dry from time to time, Lord, and not just on Sundays. Fill our cups again and again, we pray, in the sanctuary, in the home, in the workplace, or in the leisure of retirement. Amen.

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About the author:

Virgil Lee <virgilsuelee@gmail.com>
Thomasville, Georgia, USA
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