Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,
but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst again:
Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water
welling up to eternal life." John 4:13
Many years ago, I was involved in a college semester in Colorado. Many memories were created and many lessons were learned. One memory I have came as I experienced, first hand, the powerful hand of God.
We stood on the rim of the Grand Canyon readying ourselves for a stroll to the creek below. I was soon to find out that it would neither be a stroll or a creek. The stroll became an intensive struggle, the creek a mighty river. It was a little like life can be, the dream and the reality are so much different.
Twelve miles to the rushing Colorado River wasn't bad as we were pushed downward by the gravity of the "hill". By mid afternoon we reached the river. Once we were there our leader informed us that our permit didn't allow our whole group to camp at the rivers edge. Eight of us strapping young lads would have to hike back to the rim before nightfall. Just a little frolic in the river and we would be on our way.
A must for a trek in the canyon was to have plenty of water. We restocked our precious commodity and headed back on a stroll that ended up to be much more than we bargained for. A mile or two into our journey, someone dropped the sun out of the sky and darkness invaded us. We hadn't realized that in the bottom of the Grand Canyon there is no horizon, when the sun passes over the rim, it's gone. The trail disappeared and the rattle snakes came out to haunt us. In the canyon the day creates much heat, the night is very cold. We all huddled together and used the only tent we had as a blanket. Needless to say, the night was not too restful.
Morning was very welcome! We had consumed much of our water but figured we could make it out. Our trek started in the cool of the morning and we were quite pleased with ourselves as we covered quite a lot of ground. The sun became higher and hotter as we reached the plains of the canyon floor. Hot sand and unsightly cactus became our companions.
You have already guessed it, our water was gone. Desperation set in and we even tried getting some precious fluid from a cactus. Splinters were all we received from that trick. We finally reached the base of the accent to the rim. It didn't look that far but the traversing back and forth went on for miles. The summit never seemed to come and we stopped sweating. Only nine people had died on this trail. We were starting to wonder if we would double that number...stupidity.....nice legacy.
The effects of thirst affected each of us differently. For some, we couldn't go on because we had nothing to sustain us. For some, we had to go on so we could find something to sustain us. Either way the thirst needed quenching. The end was in sight, the watering hole was reached and the thirst was quenched. We all made it out with a greater respect and understanding to listen to rules and directions set by those who have gone before us.
Have I prepared myself for life's burdensome trek? The snakes, sand and cactus can show up anytime, even on a stroll to a creek. "I'm thirsty" had a whole new meaning. "Refreshment" had a whole new satisfaction. I must not forget what sustains me. I must be prepared, my containers must be full and my heart must be right.
