We are like water, aren’t we? We can
be fluid, flexible when we have to be. But strong and destructive, too.” And
something else, I think to myself. Like water, we mostly follow the path of
least resistance.” ― Wally Lamb, We Are Water
Ever sat near “natural flowing water”?
Not out of a faucet; but where Mother Nature intended for the water to be
natural flowing. Try to listen to the trickling of a babbling brook, listen to
it in the river, a stream, an ocean, and listen to it closely.
Mankind can alter the course of the
flowing water. Animals, like a beaver, may try to stop the flow with their
homemade wooden dams. However, the water continues to flow and pushes against
the forces, which seem to want to stop it. Water is the source of every living
thing and material things.
Water takes on many forms, like
steam and ice. I am going to chase a rabbit for a moment and plug in something
I learned a long time ago. Some have trouble understanding the Trinity and felt
this was the best analogy to understanding the Creator by the following expressions:
What is the chemistry make-up of water? H2O. What is the chemistry make up of
steam? H2O. What is the chemistry make-up of ice? H2O. Therefore, water (H2O),
steam (H2O), and ice (H2O) all stem from the same chemistry make-up of H2O, but
H2O can take on different forms. Here is the analogy: God (water, H2O) is in
everything and everywhere. Jesus (ice, H20) took on the solid form of man and
was crucified for our sins. The Spirit (Steam, H20) has a burning desire in our
hearts to walk in righteousness and provides the necessary energy to stand up
for things that are right and to move in His accordance. Since we are made in
His image, we are the Vapor (Fog) only here for a short time on this earth.
Sorry, for chasing the rabbit. Now
where was I? Oh yes, water the source of life. There are many different
writings, which equate people to trees. In storms trees can be shredded,
uprooted, stand firm, or broken. I’ve been in a Typhoon, when I lived in Japan
and noticed trees weather storms differently. Proud upright trees are often
fallen. Ever seen a Palm Tree? Its roots are different from other trees. The
roots are shaped in a ball-like fashion and unlike other trees; their roots do
not match the branches like other trees.
I prefer not to equate humans to
trees. Rather, since we are created in His image, then we are similar to water.
We can be polluted by the world. We can become hardened by life’s cold harsh
realities. We can be forced to be steam and burn those around us. We can be
like rain drops refreshing and nurturing those around us. We are the vapor (James
4:14) and only here for a little while.
Maya Angelou is quoted having said “people
will forget what you say, they will forget what you do, but they will never
forget how you make them feel”. We are part of the living Water (John
7:38) that flows. We can make a difference in how people feel.
The purpose of being water is to
establish strong lasting relationships in order to help others feel good about
themselves and about others. Ever been falsely accused of something; Then
others judge you based off the one sided story and refuse to find out the rest
of the truth? This exasperates the problem and doesn’t help believing in
others. Judging can muddy the waters and it is like a beaver building a dam to
hold back the water.
If you spend time with others, you
will learn what is important to them. If you empathize, then they know you care
about them. If you invest in those who appear to be good investment, then they
will do in return. Finally, we are to be the water that refreshes and not to
make others feel as if they are failures simply because of mistakes, other
people’s rumors, or false accusations without having a full understanding.
I like Marcel Proust statement, “Let
us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who
make our souls blossom.” Compare yourself to water, rather than a tree.
Meaning, you can be a force of nature and move mountains with your faith. Water
can also be stagnating if it isn’t moving. Are you moving yourself out of
complacency and improving your life?
Water can be held back, however, with
determination it can be overflowing to reach its destination.
We all belong to the main source,
H2O. Are we connecting ourselves to the Living Water that supplies us with
every need?
I’ve been through many things in my life and even in the face of cancer; I will choose not to hold me back. Be the water source that can bring life to others where they are stagnate, muddy, just flowing in life or stuck behind a dam. There is a difference between the comparison of a tree and water. One maybe comforted in being planted (TREE) in one area, and the other maybe comforted in growing and making a difference in all that it comes into contact with it (WATER).
I’ve been through many things in my life and even in the face of cancer; I will choose not to hold me back. Be the water source that can bring life to others where they are stagnate, muddy, just flowing in life or stuck behind a dam. There is a difference between the comparison of a tree and water. One maybe comforted in being planted (TREE) in one area, and the other maybe comforted in growing and making a difference in all that it comes into contact with it (WATER).
By Faith (forging attitude in trusting Him)
