Born of Water and the Spirit

 When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival,
 many believed in his name because they saw the signs 
that he was doing. But Jesus on his part would not
 entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and
 needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself
 knew what was in everyone.

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader 
of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, 
‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come 
from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart
 from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly,
 I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without 
being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can
 anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a
 second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus
 answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the 
kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 
What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the 
Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, 
“You must be born from above.” The wind blows where 
it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not 
know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with
 everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him,
 ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you 
a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these 
things?

 ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and 
testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our
 testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you 
do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about 
heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except
 the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And
 just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so 
must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in
 him may have eternal life. John 2:23 - 3:15

Water and Spirit

In the night we come with questions

in the day we appear all put together

it is the shadows and the memories

that bring us to this humble place.

Aching to understand, feeling foolish

we like Nicodemus want to be known

yet we are fearful of others' judgment

we don't want others to see our true need.

There is power in our night searching

healing when we turn like children

our faces seeking the way to belong

our hearts aching to be welcomed home.

Let us never stop from seeking answers

or being childlike with our insistent questions

we may not get the answers we truly want

but we will know love in great measure.

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