Today bloggers are rallying to speak about a need in the world. I haven’t done anything like this before. Usually I think that simply tweeting, blogging, ‘liking’, or clicking doesn’t mean a whole lot. But this time I think that if there’s enough speaking on the issue, then we are raising awareness on a very important issue around the world.
So I signed up to take part in Blog Action Day 2010. The topic this year is water.
As I thought about this topic, the symbolism of water in the Bible came to mind. Images like the flood (Genesis 7), the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14), baptism (Matthew 3) among others. Water in the Bible is symbolic of new life.
With Noah and the flood, the world was reborn, given a new chance at life, a new chance to choose the right path.
With Moses and the Red Sea, the passing through the sea on dry land started the Israelites on a journey to their new home and freedom from the Egyptians who had enslaved them.
With John the Baptist, he prepared people, through baptism, to receive Jesus Christ and his teachings. Even Jesus himself was baptized so that he could begin his ministry.
When Jesus met a struggling Samaritan woman at a well (John 4), he offered her living water. A chance at new life through knowing him and the love God offers his people.
Having water is having life.
People all over the world do not have access to safe, hygienic water. Every week, nearly 38,000 children under the age of 5 die from unsafe drinking water and unhygienic living conditions.
What can we do? Educate ourselves. Learn about programs to reduce your own water consumption, and donate to organizations who help communities around the world get access to safe, clean water so lives can not only be saved, but enriched through this basic necessity of life we take for granted here in North America.