Water

Water - the Nile, the Mediterranean, the Danube, Caspian Sea, the Mississippi, Indian Ocean.  Plants - Palm Tree, arctic lichens, lily of the valley, corn.  Animals - lions, tiger, bears - oh my!  People - Grandfather Eli, baby Annika, cousin Fred, friend Hose.  Resources - copper, titanium, nitrogen, oil.

Balance.

Sometimes I think too broad and I forget that things have names.  The world is more than just water, plants, animals, people, resources.  Those words refer to real places and things and are equally important, without any we would not survive.

I spent the night at the Cincinnati Zoo last night for an education program (love my job) and meet up close some amazing animals.  When we teach children about animals and ecology we try to teach them that the world is connected.  While these animals are wonderful, if we don't care about the plants they need to live we won't have the animals either.

We all need water, and water connects us.  As I reflected on "worldly" things today many thing came to mind.  I saw animals from across the planted today and one thing that connects all of us is water.  Water has a significant meaning to many people as well.  It symbolizes being clean and life giving - but as we know all to well it can also be destructive.  Think about how important the Jordan River is to the people who live around it, and the important water sources near you.  How do we take care of our watersheds?   

The next time you take a drink, or a shower - think about how what water means to our world and give thanks.  How it keeps life sustained not only for you, but for a palm tree in Florida which may be providing shade to a refugee from Haiti taking a cool drink.

God Bless,
your sister in Christ~Erin