Water

Water is a pretty important thing around here. Not that it isn’t at home, but it isn’t really something we think about. We don’t think about whether water will come out when you turn the sink on. We don’t think about whether you can drink it or not. We don’t think about if we are running out either. And that is what makes some of life different here. I don’t know that that is a bad thing.
As I am writing it is beginning to rain again. I believe that makes 6 of the 9 days here it has rained at some point. During this season rain is also just a part of your day. Life goes on unless you get one of the ones you can’t see through or the road washes out from the run off. When the rain starts, you just grab your bucket and collect it. It beats walking to go get it somewhere. I guess that is a part of life here too. You always see people gathering the water.
Jesus talked a lot about water. It was very important in His time too. People had to spend time gathering their water. They did so because it was essential to life. It still is. Jesus refers to himself as the living water. Letting others know He is essential to life. Without Him, we all dry up and die. Here, searching for, gathering, and bringing the living water in is done daily. It is in their speech, their music, and their thoughts. They are thankful to have God in all they do and they want more of Him. However, at home, we don’t have to try to get our water. If our water stopped coming to us, would we even know where or how to get it. Do we seek God out in our lives every day and bring Him home with us.
Each day as I walk down the hill from the guesthouse to go to the center, I pass kids collecting water. They take apart the water lines that run to the house and fill their jugs up. This is how they get their water. We asked, “Don’t you stop them? They are taking your water.” They simply say no. They are poor. Everyone knows it is being done, all day every day in fact, and they need it too. Can you imagine someone tapping into your water line at home and getting the water they need from you. Here they share the water that is essential to life. They share their faith so others may know how to live. They share their water. When was the last time you gave someone a drink of the water you have? When was the last time you shared with the poor. Most important of all, when was the last time you thought about the water that brings you life?