August 2018 Musings on Water

- in honor of all the time we spend around water, especially in summertime

What do you think is the strongest “substance” on earth? Diamonds? Steel? C’mon your first thought was…what?

Well, let me throw another one at you… WATER.

“What?” You say, “You’re joking right? Water is... floppy, soft, colorless, plain, common… nothing special… it’s just… water.”

If that’s what you’re thinking, I challenge you to ponder this:

• Water is fundamental. Making up most of the earth and most of our individual bodies, it’s the major component of both. Think about it. Water is essential in forming us and creating most everything around us.

Already, you must admit, it’s pretty amazing!

• Water is life-sustaining. Water nourishes all living things. We cannot survive without it very long, though with it, we can survive quite a while. During his longest fast, Gandhi survived three weeks without food. Yet without water, consensus predicts expiration after only a few days. To illustrate with another example (and without intending to be morbid), I had an elderly cat live – by his own accord, of course – peacefully and with no pain for months, on water, just water, before he left our family. That amazed me.
• Water is power. It can create energy, often through dams and turbines, or through steam. So, despite being “soft,” water is indeed strong.
• Water is dynamic. It flows, moves, and prefers to be in a state of action. Note: moving bodies don’t decay (an important concept for life and health which water teaches us).
• Water is low (humble). Flowing downward with gravity, water returns to its source. Many of us have longings or cravings to reconnect with our Source, aka our Creator, too.
• Water is determined. After much patience and persistence (a few million years), it has shaped the earth as we know it. Just look at the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon here in the US, The Stone Forest in China, The Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, the Twelve Apostles in Australia, and Legzira Beach in Morocco to see the beauty created by water’s efforts.
• Water is all-embracing. It penetrates just about anything. Absorbing into much of what it touches, it has a reputation (identity) for “getting in” or joining. We all have experiences to confirm that water seepage is hard to prevent without a waterproof seal. Yet, I can’t help but respect its desire for unity.
• Water supports a positive spirit. Perhaps you disagree on this one; but if you’ve ever heard of Dr. Emoto’s experiments, you are likely to concur. Dr. Emoto took individual containers of water and attached a single positive word to each; to other containers, he attached a negative word. After freezing he studied their crystals. The water given positive words created beautiful crystals, while the water assigned negative words formed rather off-putting, irrational designs. He believed the water absorbed the emotional vibrations from the intention attached to it. *
• Water is unconstrained/free. Unlike other substances, water exists commonly in all three forms (solid, liquid, and gas), moving between them fairly easily. Other elements able to transfer between states, do so through forced changes in temperature, pressure, etc.

From Wikipedia: Water is by far the most studied chemical compound and is described as the "universal solvent” and the "solvent of life". It is the most abundant substance on Earth and the only common substance to exist as a solid, liquid, and gas on Earth's surface. It is also the third most abundant molecule in the universe. *

This description is fascinating, no? What do you think about water now?

So here’s my idea: What if… I choose to “live like water.” I have found that when I elect to do so, yes, I still work hard but I also live well (Is there a pun in there?)

I can work toward becoming a “life-giving” element; perhaps live out greater generosity, compassion, and harmony. I can be flexible; existing in, transferring between, and accepting different states of mind or being. Perhaps I may live more freely disregarding unnecessary worldly pressure. I can be more embracing (absorbent), joining together with others around me for good. I can be determined and after a lifetime, leave a lasting mark of beauty in some way. I could hold more positive thoughts and views, perhaps allowing me to naturally radiate my own “exquisite crystals.” I can be more gentle yet powerful, using what I’m made of to manufacture valuable, hopeful energy.

Furthermore, by living like water, I can be a source of collaborative, serene strength. Instead of resisting or clashing with obstacles (be it persons, circumstances, or events), I might opt to maneuver around them - considering both the other, as well as my own, path but with an openness to amend, modify, and improve... What happens in a stream when a large tree falls into it? The water changes direction, goes over, under, and around, continuing along its merry way. If instead, water tried to push or conquer the tree (as would, say, a large rock), what happens? Two stubborn elements bump, hit, clash, clang, and force. It’s often noisy and painful. I can learn a lot by choosing to adjust in a difficult circumstance. Perhaps there is another - a better - way to negotiate or continue than one of brawn.

Water maintains a sense of lowliness, yet it is still majestic! How or why do I stand in awe of the ocean, a waterfall, flowing fountain, or quiet lake? What is it that captures my attention, offering a positivity that causes me to pause? The water is happily running its course, humbly performing its role, contently living as it was meant. Think about how humans strive to achieve, win, or rise up. What in our ambition motivates us? Are we hard and aggressive seeking height, or are we malleable and adaptable, remaining naturally on our course (purpose)? I find through practicing a sense of humility and gentleness, I can be wise, compassionate, insightful, successful, and helpful. On the other hand, when I try to force my way, I often lose control or at least some respect in the process. When I relate to others justly and fairly, I gain not only vision and camaraderie, but respect and desire from those I lead to perform and thrive with enthusiasm.

I’ve come to understand that when I merge my ideas, dreams, and goals with the concept of living like these qualities of water, my own life flows better and more good emerges!

Interesting, huh?

I am convinced. If there is a substance on earth I wish to imitate in order to live well in all aspects: life and health, goals and dreams, relationships and connections… I chose to aspire to live like water.

How about you?


* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Properties_of_water

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masaru_Emoto

On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and exclaimed, “Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: ‘Rivers of living water* will flow from within him.’” He said this in reference to the Spirit that those who came to believe in him were to receive.
  - John 7:37-39 


Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
  - John 4:13-14