Water

 July 8, 2021

Today’s gratitude prompt was “three gifts water,” quite appropriate since it’s rained most of the day. It should be no surprise that water plays such a pivotal role in Scripture when it plays such a foundational role in life itself. So when the biblical story begins with the Spirit of God moving upon the waters and ends with the river of life for all nations, we cannot go far astray to consider this amazing gift. Off the top of my head, ten facets of this gift come to mind.

1. Rain. We live in an area of the country with plenty of it, but without the problems that come with too much of it. We rarely experience flooding of any magnitude, and dry periods seldom last more than a few weeks at a time.

2. Safe drinking water; we have an abundance of it and don’t have to walk miles for it. It’s delivered via village or city systems or wells fitted with pumps to bring it into our homes. We don’t have to contend with parasites, or the water-borne diseases that plague so many around the world.

3. Baptism. Those of us who profess faith in Jesus Christ have been washed clean; buried and raised to new life in Christ in the waters of baptism. Whatever one’s theology of baptism, most Christians agree that we are given an example in Christ’s baptism, and that it is taught in Scripture.

4. The Creek. Surrounding our property on three sides is a trout stream with the village swimming hole at the south end of our lawn. It is a magnet for kids and families in the hot, sticky days of summer, and has become our mission field as people come to us. We are praying and learning how to best speak to them about Jesus.

5. Showers. After a day spent working in the hot sun, a refreshing shower is a treat. There are many places in this world where such a treat would be an unthinkable luxury. For us, it is commonplace.

6. Coffee. Need I say more?

7. The Great Lakes. We live about fifteen miles south of Lake Erie, part of the Great Lakes of the U.s. and Canada, the largest body of fresh water in the world. My late friend and former boss Bob Pascoe used to talk of the day when this abundance of water would once again bring the world to our doorstep. The decline of manufacturing and disastrous governmental policies have turned our once-thriving area into a sad shell of its former glory, but as water resources dry up out west, the abundance of water here may just mean the resurgence of commerce and community for which we here long.

8. Life itself. Without water, life as we know it would cease to exist. This amazing gift makes it all possible.

9. Power. The Robert Moses power plant in Niagara Falls is a wonder of engineering that supplies the northeast with abundant electricity, without the brownouts and power failures that plague so much of our country and world.

10. The Hydrologic Cycle, whereby rain falls, seeps into the ground, feeds aquifers that produce springs that become streams, creeks, and rivers that feed the oceans where it evaporates and starts all over again.

It’s an amazing world our God has created, and it all hinges upon water—two molecules of hydrogen combined with one of oxygen; two highly flammable elements that combined become the most commonly used fire extinguisher. Go figure; only God could come up with such a plan. Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful gift of water!