Water is something that none of us can do without. Our bodies are made up of around 75% and as well as hydrating internally, we need to hydrate externally as well. It can be comforting to soak in after a hard days work and also refreshing drink. Living in the UK we often take it
for granted that it will always be at the end of a tap having access
around the clock. There are countries whose population still do not have access to clean running water for the very essentials in life, and the thought of having to give water to drink that you got from the lake, the same lake
where the cattle tread, where you bath and wash clothes and every other
imaginable use, to your child to drink is unthinkable, but the reality they face, check out these
facts about water in the developing world. If you alsowant to find out ways in which you can take more care with the earths resources check out
reduce the footprints a blog about making a positive impact to our environment and has some great tips.
Memories of Home
I shared in
Memories of Home series my experience between
the age of around 4 – 6 years where the house we lived in two rooms with my
family. The house didn't have access to a bath or inside toilet. We used to have a portable tin bath in the room and containers where the water
had to be stored and was boiled as needed. Many houses
in the UK in those days didn't have bathrooms and had to use what was known as a
public baths, buildings specifically designed to meet then needs of local people, you would also take your laundry there as well. The baths would have separate first and second class areas for use.
Holiday surprises
We also found when me, my brother and sister visited our Grandma in Jamaica in 1982 just what it would be like without the modern conveniences that we were used to. As teenagers at the time we rolled up our sleeves and got on with it, and we handled it quite well seeing it as an adventure. With no running water each morning we would have to go
down to the well - which was down a hill - to fetch the water that would be used for bathing and drinking
and washing up the dishes. It was a
humbling experience and really put things into perspective.
Calling the Repair man
We can often take what we do have for granted. Recently my mothers bathroom cold water tap stopped working and when I called for the repairs they told me that it would take them a week before they could come and look at it. I was surprised that it wasn't seen as an emergency, especially for the elderly to have cold running water at home. What we were having to do to set the bath for her was to run the hot water tap, let it go cold and then add the hot water after and make the best of the situation. I waited in for the repair man to come, glad that the week had passed and we would soon be able to carry on as normal. Just before he came I decided for some reason to turn the tap on, I knew that it wouldn't work because I had been trying every day from the time I called them out. To my surprise 10 minutes before he came the water began to flow out of the tap as if there had never been a problem.
I was stunned, why on the very day that it was supposed to be fixed would it start working, all week there had been nothing and then all of a sudden the tap started to flow. The door knocked and in the repair man came. I explained, (slightly embarrassed), what had been happening and said funnily enough the tap started working that morning. I wasn't sure if the look that he gave me was one that questioned whether there was a fault in the first place. Anyway, after much fiddling and banging he eventually said that it was fixed, and confirmed what I thought it was - the washer. I was at last able to get on with my day.
New Insights
When we look for the revelations and insights that can come from different situations in life, it can often show us interesting and important things. It reminded me that you never know how things are going to turn out. You can be dissuaded by how things look in the moment and sometimes you need to find temporary solutions making the best of it before a way is made. You also have to slow down. There are so many things that we find ourselves trying to do all at the same time we begin to miss the life that is passing right before our eyes and we forget to enjoy the simple things. Take time to think about the events that happen in your life, what interesting revelation could they contain that you can apply to your life in a positive way?
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields it's fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither whatever they do
prospers Psalm 1:3
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail Isaiah 58:11
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