It was probably — no, it was — dangerous.
But it was a familiar danger. When it was so hot we were miserable outside where we spent most of our time in the summer, we went swimming. Although the city pool was concrete, big and clean, I really liked the old abandoned gravel pit near the railroad track the best to swim in.
Walking down the creosote smelling railroad ties with the sun blinding us glinting off the rails, we walked anticipating the cool water to come.
Reaching our goal, the water cooled our feet as we waded in with relief. Seemingly, this water was easier to swim in as we floated and looked up at the deep blue sky and puffy white clouds.
Next to the gravel pit was a clear stream. We found clam shells that reflected the pastel colors of the sky at dawn. Dragonflies flirted around us. We waded in the cold water with the sun shining on our heads. Few things felt as good as the cool swimming holes from childhood. When thirsty, we drank from cold artesian springs.
When Katrina hit New Orleans and we lived not far away in Mississippi, we lost electricity a long time and had many refugees come to our little town. We tried to take them in, house them somehow and provide food.
I remember being so hot, we put a blow-up air bed in the living room where there were the biggest windows in the house. As I got hotter and hotter, I finally got some cool water and poured it in the middle of the air bed! When I lay down on it, covered with a damp sheet, I finally cooled off and slept.
Another way we cooled off was drinking cool water! We are to thirst for God and His presence in the way we want cool water when we are burning up! Psalm 41:1 says, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, My God.”
Matthew 5:6 tells us: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.”
When hot and miserable, we want and need cool water to drink. In fact, we will die without water. The average person can live about three days without water.
Remember Lazarus and the rich man? The rich man died and went to Hades and Lazarus died and went to “Abraham’s side,” or heaven. The rich man asked for Lazarus to “dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.” (Luke 16:19-31)
Don’t wait too late to drink in the love, mercy and salvation of God!
