In some
ways, running in the summer is harder work than running during the fall or
spring. Even though you don’t have to
dress in layers or dodge snow banks, the oppressive heat and humidity can be
just as much of an obstacle.
As I
came home recently from a particularly-long run, my husband extended his cup of
iced tea for me to take a drink. I waved
it away and headed straight for the fridge.
I knew exactly what I wanted.
After I
grabbed the squeeze bottle of liquid and dumped in a couple of ice cubes for
good measure, I raise the bottle to my lips and took a good, long pull.
There
is no way to describe how good a drink of ice-cold water tastes to someone unless
s/he has been that thirsty. Even then, there are no adequate words. It’s just that those who have had the
experience get it. At that moment – that point
of extreme dehydration - that water is the best and only thing that quenches
thirst.
Proverbs
25:25 has an important point to make about cold water as well. “Like cold water
to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.”
Just as
an icy glass of water is the only way to slake true thirst, the same is true of
a kind word or good news. . .that is the result of someone following God’s
prompting. Both provide true,
God-ordained relief at precisely the
moment they are needed.
Whenever
we hear that Little Voice in our heads. . .you know, the One who asks us to do
or say seemingly weird things at random times, and follow through, we are the “good
news from a distant land.” We are
allowing ourselves to be a cup of cold water to someone who is dying of thirst.
Whose
squeeze bottle is God asking you to be today?
