WATER
The fountain where the water flows.
The fountains mingle with the river and
the rivers with the ocean.
As the rain and snow come down from heaven
and do not return without watering the earth
making it yield and giving growth
to provide seed for the sower
and bread for the eating (Is.55:10)
Let anyone who is thirsty, let them come to me
come and drink you who believe in me
for from his breasts shall flow
fountains of living water.
Jesus was speaking of the Spirit
which those who believe in him were to receive.
John 7:37
“Water, water everywhere” affirmed Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner
before lamenting “but not a drop to drink”
as it is for a billion people on our planet of 7 billion today. Though making up 70% of the surface of the globe, still clean drinking water is denied to so many. Water is for washing not wasting, for sharing not privatising, for the waters of the world are all inter-linked with the mighty oceans.
The Sea of faith
Was once, too, at the full, and round earth’s shore.
Lay like the folds of a bright girdle.
But now I only hear
It’s melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,
Retreating, to the breath
Of the night-wind, down the vast edges drear
And naked shingles of the world.
(Matthew Arnold’s Dover Beach)
Access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights. Yet every day detergents and chemical products continue to pour into our rivers, lakes and seas. Unsafe water results in many deaths like dysentery and cholera, linked to inadequate hygiene and water supplies. L.si’30.
In our post- modern world we run the risk of rampant individualism connected with today’s self-centred culture of the need for instant gratification. Impulsive and wasteful in our consumption we just forget about future generations. L.si’ 162.
We are pilgrims on a journey. We are travellers on the road.
We are here to help each other, walk the mile and bear the load.