WATER
Definition: WATER is a transparent fluid which forms the world’s streams, lakes, oceans and rain, and is the major constituent of the fluids of living things. A transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid, a compound of hydrogen and oxygen, H 2 O, freezing at 32°F or 0°C and boiling at 212°F or 100°C, that in a more or less impure state constitutes rain, oceans, lakes, rivers, etc.: it contains 11.188 percent hydrogen and 88.812 percent oxygen, by weight.
WATER, I love WATER…I am not sure if there is any truth but it might be because I was born under the astrology sign of an Aquarius meaning WATER-bearer or the fact my soul is nourished when I am around WATER. Whether I am sitting in the backyard by the pool or floating on a raft on a hot summer’s day reading a book, to enjoying family time in the boat on the lake or finding a brook with a steady flow of WATER trickling down over the rocks and watching nature come alive with dragon flies, butterflies and fish swimming or turtles sunning. Just thinking about all these things brings a smile to my face and a happy heart. As I am writing this week’s blog I actually have had the privilege through work to be on the road and am viewing the most magnificent sunrise over Lake Austin, the cranes are grabbing their morning delight as the locust and insects of nature are alive and well! I am breathing in deeply and slowly letting it out…PEACE true tranquil serenity surrounds me as we start a new day. A wonderful day the Lord hath made, let us all rejoice in it. I love the ripples of WATER, oh here comes a morning fisherman trolling down the lake and enjoying his morning too! What about you…do you love nature, WATER and all the beauty it brings?
Just listening to running WATER flowing from a fountain, a WATERFALL or the crashing of the waves on a beach…maybe its raindrops falling on a tin roof to me it is so soothing almost like a lullaby. I love soaking in a hot bubble bath at the end of a long hard day. Let’s do a little exercise by closing your eyes for a moment and picture your favorite sound of WATER…what vision comes to the forefront of your mind? For me growing up in rural Southeast Colorado the wind blew quite a bit and as I closed my eyes I envisioned the sound of a windmill pumping WATER from the well. Maybe it’s the sound of creaking boats and lapping WATER hitting the boat dock at the lake or the laughter of children running through the sprinkler in the front yard on a hot summer day. As I am sitting here sipping my scrumptious cup of hot Oolong tea with fresh mint and guava nectar, I am truly blessed and love thinking about how WATER feeds my soul.
WATER also nourishes your body. Have you ever really thought about it, we totally cannot exist on this earth without WATER? From the plants and animals we eat to actual survival we all require WATER. The last few years we have experienced a drought and lower levels of moisture in most parts of our country. Lakes are down, cities are fighting over WATER rights and I have some good friends that are experiencing a severe WATER shortage Stage 5 in the community they live in. Many folks in town were drilling wells on their property. It is kinda scary to think you don’t have WATER, so many things we take for granted but what if…we didn’t have the luxury of clean drinking WATER? I know third world countries are faced with these challenges day in and day out. Sudan is one country that comes to mind and our church has helped raise money and sponsored the drilling of many wells. Our bodies require WATER…we should drink at least eight glasses of 8 fluid ounces each day.
Growing up in the country I never really thought about where the WATER we drank came from but now people seem to be more informed and concerned over the quality of WATER we take in. Some people would be appalled to think I used to drink WATER out of a garden hose on a hot summer day and who drinks tap WATER from the kitchen sink when we have filtered WATER coming from the refrigerator’s door. I also had an insta hot installed so I can have a wonderful cup of hot tea anytime I like…one of my favorite devices I use daily! What year do you think bottle WATER started? Did you know it was invented thousands of years ago but it wasn’t in plastic bottles and they weren’t for commercial use? The first time someone bottled WATER for commercial purposes, was in 1583, somewhere in Belgium. It was sold to King Henri II of France himself. Since the mid ‘80s there has been a rapid growth in the sale of bottled WATER. Did you know the average American used 167 disposable WATER bottles and over 30 million were sold in the U.S. annually last year? That’s amazing to me.
WATER not only sustains our bodies but also is an integral part of our spiritual life. The Bible is rich with images of WATER that symbolize new life, cleansing, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. When I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior I was baptized in WATER at the church on that Easter Sunday when I was 12 years old and my life forever changed. As I read through scripture, I find many verses that WATER trickles and gushes through God’s word…check out just a couple here:
Amos 5:25 “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
John 4:13-14 “Jesus said to her, “everyone who drinks of this WATER will be thirsty again, but 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.”
I also think of the Samaritan woman at the well, drawing water by herself because she was outcast by the other women because of the lifestyle she had chosen and she encountered a life changing event in her life when meeting Jesus himself. He simply asked her “Will you give me a drink?” She replied “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” I encourage you to grab your bible and read the whole story found in John 4:1-4:42. This is one example of the truth that no one can sink so low, Jesus changed her and he can change you too if you are willing and just ask!
We had the privilege over Labor Day weekend to spend some time at one of my favorite places, Lake Hamilton in Arkansas. There is something that refreshes my soul to wake up early and sit on the boat dock with Bible, journal and a hot cup of tea watching the sun come up and breathing in the fresh air of a brand new day. Spending time to regroup, relax and just be. Life is so full of a fast paced schedules and everyday obligations. We all need to take an extra couple of days for just “Takin Time Out”. I hope each of you did something fun, relaxing and had time to renew your soul. If not I encourage you to plan something soon…
Sitting here glancing over the crystal clear WATER wishing I could just sit here the rest of the day, I realize I must leave to get ready for work…I count my blessing I have a job, even with all the challenges and confusion we endure throughout the day, I know this is where I am supposed to be for now…I hope each of you find time for “Takin Time Out” with a refreshing glass of WATER and reflect on the streams and rivers that flow through your life and count your many blessings until next time my friends…ENJOY!
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