“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.”
—Isaiah 44:3Dear friends,
One of the difficult things about our adoption experience in Russia was that the water everywhere was unfit to drink. Even in the fanciest hotels, with large elegant bathtubs and lovely restaurants, we couldn’t drink the water or brush our teeth at the sink. Everywhere we went, we carried bottles of water. We were always on the lookout to make sure we had enough. On our long train rides from Pskov to Moscow, it was always challenging.
Sometimes, I’d find myself really thirsty, having to wait until we could buy water. I got a glimpse of what thirst could really be. I think of the residents of Flint, Michigan, living for so long with contaminated, undrinkable water. I remember the folks in the wake of natural disasters, relying on relief organizations to supply water that is safe to drink. I pray for the people in places where severe sustained drought forces them to walk miles and miles to find water in order for their families to survive.
How very, very lucky we are to be able to simply go to the kitchen and turn on the faucet and drink the water—beautiful, clean, safe, sweet water. It’s something most of us take for granted, I suspect.
At the beginning of Lent, we remember Jesus’ wilderness experience, one that took him through a dry and barren place. As we engage with this year’s Lenten theme, “Out of the waters…,” let’s be grateful for the life-giving waters we enjoy in our homes, the life-giving water we receive from Christ’s presence in our lives, and the gift of God’s love that pours over us like an ever-flowing stream.
Blessings for Lent,
Karen Nell