Water

I’ve been thinking about water lately. Partly because it’s been raining every day here in Guatemala (we had no idea it was monsoon season before we left). But also for another big reason.

In Cook county, we have the best water in the world. We really do. Even when we lived in Wisconsin we had to have a water softener to keep our pipes and appliances working properly. But you really don’t need one in Chicago (apologies to softener vendors). Some of you are into bottled water but sorry, there’s more bacteria in your Aquifina than straight out my tap at home. We are spoiled in our area. We have cool, clean, pure, refreshing life-giving water at our instant disposal.

But it’s not like that down here. The other night I ran out of bottled water and I was parched. It kept me awake. The water in the tap looked clean, but it's flowing with millions of nasty microbes. Even after brushing my teeth I have to rinse my mouth with bottled water just to keep from getting sick, possibly even deathly sick.

Years ago I knew a young Mexican teenager in our youth group. He was born in Mexico but grew up in Wisconsin. As a young teen, he visited his homeland and since he had been born there, he thought he’d be ok with the water. By the time he returned, he developed a sickness that took him out of school for over a year and left him disabled, unable to walk for a time.

That’s the same water that I’m brushing my teeth with here in Guatemala.

But the water here is clean compared to some parts of the world. Millions of people in third world countries cook, clean and even drink with water that is discolored and has a putrid odor to it. Many die from diseases just because they are thirsty. And for that water, villagers will walk for miles to obtain it because it’s the only water available.

Then I think of turning on my tap at home.

That’s why The Bridge is partnering with World Vision in the Chicago Marathon. I’m so proud of the fifty or so runners who are right now working their butts off with difficult training, not to win a temporal medal that will soon be forgotten, but to provide clean water to people who have never known how wonderful a glass of fresh cold water on a hot day can taste. We are doing it for them.

Remember what Jesus said? "And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42 ESV).

Those who are running can’t do this alone. Some of us are in training for the marathon, but all of us need to participate. If you are not a runner, why not get online now and support someone who is. You’ll be doing more than just giving a cup of cold water to a little one. You’ll be providing fresh clean water to children for the rest of their lives.