A Day without Water – Part 2
Kristen and I both participated in this day without water experiment. For the most part, we were prepared for the physical challenges. We knew that our throats would be dry, our hands would be dirty, and we couldn’t really prepare any meals. We chose to forgo our workout at the gym because we couldn’t take showers afterward. Our daily routine had to change in the absence of water.
What we weren’t prepared for was the mental aspect of this challenge. This experience led us to realize just how much we rely on water and its on-demand availability. We spent a lot of time just thinking about water. It occupied so much of our attention that we found it difficult to focus on the task at hand. Both Kristen and I noticed that we were more hungry than usual, probably because our bodies were trying to send us a message. Food didn’t sound appetizing, though. It’s much easier to go without food than to go without clean water.
Of course, we really can’t complain about short little experience. Even though we felt the physical and mental effects of going without water, we knew that an endless supply was waiting for us at the end of the day. Unfortunately, for many people, living without drinkable water is a way of life, not a simple challenge. Statistics say that over one billion people (17% of the world’s population) have no access to safe water. Every minute, three children die from this problem.
The point of the exercise is to gain insight into the plight of the extremely poor of the world. As Christians, we should be dedicated to addressing this tragedy and spreading God’s love through our actions. If you would like to be involved in bringing clean water to those who so desperately need it, please consider contributing to World Vision or the WSU Ripple Effect.
If you’d like to learn more about the curriculum our Sunday School class is using, check out The Hole in Our Gospel and its associated Six-Week Quest.
. I’ll let you know how it goes!