When you walk the streets of Prague, the Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, you see something you don't in America: bowing down. The homeless/poor that are begging for money, kneel to the ground, bend over, and beg while bowed down on their knees, there faces planted in the cement. They hold a tin can or baseball cap in front of them with both hands, and are silent. They are hoping to hear the sounds of coins drop, to open their eyes and see a hat full of what they have hoped for. Wow! This is such a powerful statement. They are prostrating themselves for all to see, in submission to all. They are humbling themselves in a deep way in order to receive help. Am I glad they're doing this? No. Is this necessary or the right thing to do? Not always. But perspectives aside, the bowing act is a very symbolic act.
I have seen many street beggers in my life. I even know some, I have befriended several in Santa Monica, CA. John, an intelligent and sweet Christian man begging on 3rd St. Promenade, who has paralysis, is physically deformed, and lives out of his wheelchair, is my dear friend. I've missed him this year.
But even though I've seen many beggers in my life, for some reason my head and eyes could not turn away from these Prague beggers as I passed them by. WHY? Because the act of bowing is such a powerful act. Bowing silently shouts so much. It is one of the most reverent gestures someone could ever do for someone else. When you bow to someone you 100%, unequivocally, tell the person they get your ALL. They get your respect, your attention, your submission, your obedience.
Perhaps that is why bowing is rarely done. In introductions we give handshakes all the time. We give smiles. Even head nod's. The only time I have ever bowed down is when I bow on my knees to the Lord. In fact, this is when I have some of the most intimate times with God. I get on my knees, put my face to the ground, and declare my love for Him. Declare my need, my help, and my love of Him. I give up my 'self' my ALL.
What has powerfully struck me is how much a need, a desire, can bring on such a humbling and self denying act. The Prague street men and women who are asking for money have a hope. Their hope is money. Money for a meal, or groceries, or alcohol, or for rent. Whatever the reason, they have a hope. And they are willing to do one of the most self denying acts a man can do in order to get their hope fulfilled.
In contrast, when I bow to God, I'm hoping not for the sound of money, but for His overflowing presence. The sound of God Almighty filling the space where I'm at or whispering in my ear, in my heart. It's like I have a cup out to God as I bow, in front of my face, and I get the filling of his everlasting water.
When we bow before God he gets our ALL. And in return, we get the most amazing thing ever, not a crown coin, but The Kings living water. I get filled with an everlasting food, water, refuge, and joy. His water is so refreshing, so calming, so filling. Do you need a filling of God's refreshing love? He is ready to give it to you. Simply cry out to Him, bow to your knees, and hold out your hands as a cup, and give your all to Him. He is there to give you Himself!
“…whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.
Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14
