There is a conference under way in Ottawa called Connecting Water Resources with an impressive roster of international presenters. Dr. Rita Colwell is speaking about the effects of climate change on the quality of water and the concern that without sufficient vigilance water quality in developed countries could deteriorate to the point that we would once again be faced with disease related issues essentially eradicated during the twentieth century.
Water is a precious resource and it should be no surprise that it has always been regarded as reflecting the sacred in virtually every religion. You might recall that last year I attended a conference in New Mexico called Water and the Baptismal Life which connected the practical and spiritual aspects of water. One of the presenters Ben Stewart has written an article in a recent issue of the Christian Century on water in the Christian tradition. http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2011-01/water-worship
Our Sunday School is currently following this theme of water and faith. To help the kids "get real" they have found a water project through Ryan's Well, an organization begun by a determined child which funds fresh water sources. The foundation has completed more than 600 projects in the past decade. While Ryan's Well is not a Christian organization, there are plenty of well stories in both Old and New Testaments, and one of our two Protestant sacraments is "watery."
Any thoughts about water, practical and/or spiritual? How about experiences with Ryan's Well? Are you pleased our kids will learn more about what water means for life in all its forms?
We had a class last year do work on the book "Ryan's Well". They were all so pumped that, that year for Christmas, instead of giving their teacher a gift, they pooled their money and contributed to Ryan's well in their teacher's honour. The power of a book, and one child's determination. I think it is wonderful that the Sunday School are looking at water. It infiltrates our lives on so many levels. Body, soul and mind!
ReplyDeleteThis may be way out there, but I remember that old British cartoon from the 1970s and '80s, "Dr. Snuggles" tackling unwise water practices when I was a kid. (Anyone else remember that show? Peter Ustinov starred as the good doctor ... )
ReplyDeleteAnyway, in the episode in question, there was an unknown villain who was extracting great 'blocks' of the Ocean for its own purposes on another world. The spots where water had been removed looked like empty ice cube trays; that is, they didn't fill in osmotically as you'd expect - they just sat there, square and vacant.
Looking back, that was probably the first time I'd ever been jolted by an environmental concern. I remember laying awake thinking about how horrifying it was, and to this day, I have a strong interest in ocean life, conservation and our federal water policies all stemming from that show so many years ago.
I grew up around water. In our "Michigan History" class, we learned about the five great lakes and the 11,000 other lakes within the state of MIchigan. There was a lot of pride in that.
ReplyDeleteIn moving to Ontario, most days I could see the lake on a drive along the 401.
Now, I live in Saskatchewan. Although, we have had a lot of rain and snow lately, I do miss the water: seeing the weather reflected in the water, seeing a horizon of water, going for a swim, and walking along a sandy beach.
Water is precious and I feel the wonder of creation in the sound of crashing waters.
I strongly support the United church in its stand against bottled water. Water and air are 2 of the many gifts God has given us to live on this earth. Paying for a bottle of water still strikes me as ridiculous. 30 years ago we would have scoffed at bottled water, and said what's next, will we have canned air?? There have been Oxygen bars operating in large cities for years now.
ReplyDeleteAnother alarming issue I heard a rumour about lately. Those of us on a well could be made to have a meter installed so we can pay for the water we use from under our own property.
My thoughts are that God is the one that put it there, if I'm going to pay someone for it, it will be God.