Confession time. If you know me well, this isn’t news, however it may put my status as a Coloradan at risk. Here goes.
I spend a great deal of my life partially dehydrated.
There it is. I’m not good at drinking water. I don’t mind drinking it if I’m eating something with it, but to just drink/sip/guzzle it with no purpose other than hydrating? No thanks.
Part of me rebels against it because too much of the time water on an empty or semi-empty stomach nauseates me. There’s another part that only likes cold water. By cold I mean frosty. Then there’s the part of me that hates being interrupted by frequent trips to the bathroom. I could keep going, but you’ve got the idea. None of my objections *ahem* hold much water.
The funny thing is I advocate for drinking lots of water. Are you visiting Colorado and have a headache or a nose bleed? I’ll tell you to drink more water. Are you participating in one of my summer programs? I’ll bribe you with American candy to get you to drink more water. What do I buy when I need a basic kind of gift? A water bottle, of course!
Here’s the ironic thing . . . when I start to drink water I want more of it. Of course, it has to be at the right temperature. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t go for just any water. I feel bad for servers in restaurants because it’s hard to keep my water glass filled.
In the last few days I’ve learned that rest is like water.
My summers tend to run on the crazy side. I spend more hours at the office than I do anywhere else. Often my full day of interacting, teaching, and directing is lengthened by a few hours of email, reading, and researching. Staying caught up feels like an extra part time job.
As tired as I an when I walk through my front door, it can take quite a while to wind down. Shutting down my mind to plunge into a good night’s sleep is a plodding process most nights. Both a rest and sleep deficit wait for me each weekend.
A week and a half ago my summer officially ended. Through the generosity of a couple I have yet to meet, I had the opportunity for some R&R in the mountains. The little cabin provided a comfy existence, glorious views, and entertaining wildlife. For 5 days I fulfilled my goals of resting and staying alive.
I expected to return home feeling energized, refreshed, and ready to get back to work. Expectations and reality quickly parted company. If it’s possible, I feel more tired than when I left.
Rest is like water. Getting a little in the correct conditions leaves me hankering for more.
My schedule will allow for some more rest just as the ice machine down the hall allows me to have the cold water I need. I need both, and I’m working at getting them. I’m not sure if my schedule allows for all the rest I need, but I’m going to trust Jesus who multiplied 2 fish and five loaves to feed thousands will multiply the rest I get to feed my need.
How are you at staying hydrated? How rested are you? Where else do you see this principle at work?
6 responses to “Like Water”
Prayer & devotions. In this phase of life I don’t do either enough but I need them. When I pray, I want to pray more. When I study the Bible, I don’t want to stop. But, like your need to have water at a perfect temperature and have time for rest, I need quiet, a clear head and motivation to pray and study the Bible. Thankfully next week I am starting a Bible study at church that should help with both!
Oddly enough I get plenty of rest but always feel tired 🙂
Glad you had a good retreat!
Two little ones may contribute to that tiredness, Tirzah! Prayer and Bible study–those are kind of like rest and water. All are necessary.
Thanks for sharing your insights. H2O, so true! Our summer schedules are also very heavily loaded, if back in the States for a home assignment or like this year here in Côte d’Ivoire. We had lots of people from the US, Europe and Côte d’Ivoire around our table in Korhogo and Bouaké. It is such a blessing! But the time to fill up in quiet and prayer is very little. I like you last phrase very much – ” I’m going to trust Jesus who multiplied 2 fish and five loaves to feed thousands will multiply the rest I get to feed my need.” Cause our schedule is going to get even more packed as the new Journey Corps team is going to arrive in a few days. Greetings and Blessings to you form Bouaké, Angelika
I, too, expected to come back and feel all energized and ready to dive into the year. But I’m not. I’m refreshed in a different way, though, because I got back in touch with some of the deepest stuff of what makes me who I am that isn’t in this culture… So I do have dreams and ideas that I didn’t have before. But I’m still tired. I guess I felt rested and content for about a week…
sigh.
Can’t wait for heaven. ‘ugs to you, my dear.
Sara set up her horse book ends in her room today with the horse books. 🙂
Hi Sheryl,
May your water and your rest be renewed, spilled over. 🙂
I have been reading some great books on refugees and the TCK issues they face too. “The Late Homecoming” A Hmong memoir by an author I can’t remember (phenomenal book) and “The Story of My Life: An Afghan Girl on the Other Side of the Sky” by Ahmedi. Both really good.
Have a great day.
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
Angelika – You’re so welcome. Your words resonate deeply. It’s hard to find times of quiet and prayer in seasons of busy ministry. It’s ironic, isn’t it? Lately it seeems that there really isn’t a season that’s quiet. The next few months at WorldVenture are quieter, but my personal life is in more upheaval. May your rest be multiplied and your joy exceed your rest!
Soul – It’s good to find the parts of you that don’t fit most of the time–and to find they fit again! Hooray for that! Hooray for a week of feeling rested! It’s better than nothing. I’ve had a few days of feeling rested here and there, but the rest dissipates quickly. I want to hear your dreams and ideas!!!! I’m looking forward to heaven, too. ‘UGS back at ya!
Jennifer – Thanks for the book recommendations! There are a lot of similarities between TCKs and refugees. They all fall under the umbrella of Cross Cultural Kids (CCKs). May you, too, be overflowing!