October Observation

Water Works

The postman has just delivered a water company’s newsletter. Imaginative and informative, it includes articles on the profile of an Olympics kayak contender, water efficiency in schools, the water requirements of natterjack toads, and the job of the ‘hydrogeology and catchments manager’ – he safeguards water resources against pollution.

In the same post was a charity leaflet about toilet twinning – donating a sum of money to provide a latrine somewhere in the world where there isn’t yet basic sanitation. Many charities help provide wells and irrigation for household and farming use. Those of us who so easily take water for granted can help provide for those who aren’t so lucky. Perhaps it’ll make us truly thankful for the toilet, and for glasses of fresh water to quench our thirst…

Nearly 3000 years ago God saw the physical and spiritual thirst of people: “When my people in their need look for water, when their throats are dry with thirst… I will make rivers flow among barren hills and springs of water run in the valleys.” Centuries later Jesus compared himself and his words to ‘living water.’ He told the woman who gave him a drink at a well, “Whoever drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. My water will become in him a spring which will provide him with life-giving water and give him eternal life.”

Jesus continues to offer his life-giving water. It’s on tap all the time and quenches our spiritual thirst as no other can.