God opens his life to his creation

I've often been stuck by this verse:

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations." (Rev 22:1-2)

Here we see the river of life - the very inner life of Godself: the Holy Spirit - flowing out from the Father and Son into creation. When I give Carol flowers (if she read this she'd say, "Ooooh. My memory does not stretch back that far! Did it ever really happen?") my gift is distinct from myself. But the life that God gives to his creation is not something distinct from God but is God's own life. It is the Holy Spirit of God. The image in Revelation seems to be of God oepning up the inner life of the Holy Trinity and allowing some measure of 'participation in God'.

The Odes of Solomon puts this nicely:

"Fill for yourselves water from the living spring of the Lord,
Because it has been opened for you.
And come all you thirsty and take a drink,
And rest beside the spring of the Lord
Because it is pleasing and sparkling,
and perpetually pleases the soul.
For more refreshing is its water than honey ...
Because it flowed from the lips of the Lord..."
Ode 30:1-4a, 5a

God opens himself to us in Christ by his Spirit.

And as I listen to the news each day the vision in Revelation of healing for the nations fills me with hope. Make it soon, Lord. Make it soon.