uwlandyn7的部落格

Water is the driving force of all nature - Leonardo Da Vinci

I recently spent sometime in Seattle, Washington. It is a wonderful place. It rains all the time. Those who live there say this isn't so. I have rarely been there when it didn't rain. My visit made me more appreciative of sunshine and more conscious of water.

I live clear across the country from Seattle. I, too, live close by the sea, though I go to the beach about as often as a Parisian visits the Louvre. When I do go to the seashore, I find it a healing place. As Melville writes in Moby Dick, "There is magic in it.... Meditation and water are wedded forever."

Water is so closely identified with relaxation that it is the most common factor in vacation destinations. Even those who choose the mountains over the beach end up on the shore of a lake. Water is where we go for stress relief. When surf bubbles are unavailable, bath bubbles replace them. Water brings healing.

Isak Dinesen/Karen Blixen, best known for writing Out of Africa, observed, "The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea." It is a great observation. It covers all the options we have when in need of a cure. In some cases, we need to work harder, in others be more honest with our emotions, and in others, just simply hit the beach.

Water plays a significant role in every one of the world's major religions. It commonly captures the concept of cleansing, rebirth and renewal. The flowing water of a river or stream, the movement of the tides on the ocean, the rain falling from above, all bring life, renewal and peace.

I can't think of water without remembering the simple lesson in the Kingston Trio Song about Desert Pete. It is simplistic, to be sure. Yet, it captures the facts.

Yeah, you'll have to prime the pump,

Work that handle like there's a fire.

Under the rock you'll find some water left there in a bitter's jar.

Now there's just enough to prime it with,

So don't you go drinkin' first.

Just pour it in and pump like mad and,

Buddy, you'll quench your thirst.

You've got to prime the pump.

You must have faith and believe.

You've got to give of yourself 'fore you're worthy to receive.

Drink all the water you can hold.

Wash your face to your feet.

Leave the bottle full for others.

Thank you kindly, Desert Pete.

Today's a great day to drink more water and leave the bottle full for others...