Drink Thirstily

(Adapted from an article by Tzipporah Heller.)

Scenario 1: Let’s say you get lost in the Judean Desert. Your tour group stops at a remote desert vista on the way to Masada, you wander off slightly to take a picture of a particularly majestic mountain, you turn around, and… the group and the bus are gone. A couple hours go by, you drink up all the water in your bottle of spring water, no other tour bus comes to this remote place, and you are growing increasingly desperate as the day gets hotter and you get thirstier. Finally, after say, 8 hours, an army patrol comes by and rescues you. One of the soldiers offers you his filthy canteen full of warm water. Will you take it? Will you be grateful for it? Will you drink it thirstily? Of course you would. Scenario 2: You’re dining in a five-star hotel. At the end of your meal, the waiter comes and asks, “Would you like anything else?” You say, “Yes, I’d like some ice water, please.” He brings you a filthy canteen full of warm water. Will you drink it, or be grateful for it? Obviously not!

My Message

The more aware you are that you are in need, the less finicky you’ll be about from whom you are taking, but in essence what do we know is truly good for us at any given moment? How are we to know that what ever is handed to us will benefit us in the long run (and it always does)? The other day I had finished the tin of my favourite coffee beans and resorted to the backup tin of another brand. After my first sip I wished I could have my preferred brand, but then suddenly realised how shocking a thought that was. Here I am drinking coffee which is (kind of) delicious and I am wishing for something better. The coffee gave me the sustenance to face the morning and fuelled my body. My wishful thinking removed me from just enjoying where I was at that moment. This is like our lives, we get one thing and keep wishing for more as we feel it's not enough. When will it ever be enough? The moment you exercise immense gratitude for what is given to you, that is when. So the next time you are handed something you feel is not enough, forget about it and drink it thirstily.

May you have an awesome week, count your blessings and after you have counted them...count them again!
Darren Zwiers

The Quote:

"God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you?” – William A. Ward