Thirst

My lips are dry, my throat is sticky. I am hot but not sweating. My skin is tight. I thirst. My body is sending signals in every way it can - go get a drink of water.  I have a choice - fulfill this basic need or ignore it for other pressing distractions that are all around me.  I choose to leave my preoccupations and get a clean refreshing large glass of water.  It passes my lips, my throat is immediately loosened, I can feel the water hydrate my body as it travels into my inner parts.  I am refreshed by this intake of pure water.   Thirst in the sub Sahara is an important sensation to pay attention to.  I preserves life when listened to.
The spiritual thirst that I experience is no less tangible.  I feel unfocused, edgy, without peace when I am in a state of spiritual thirst.  The living water is within me through the Spirit. I have such an abundant supply of living water that I should never thrist in this way, but I do.   I neglect to tap into the reserves that are in me. What a foolish way to respond to the depth of need I have to be washed, renewed and regenerated.
Thanks be to God for His filling and overflowing blessing of  Living water - consume it and you are never thirsty again.
Here in Burkina Faso the concept of thirst takes on whole new meaning.  People settle in villages where it is hard to imagine what drew them to the space without water, surrounded by dust and without vegitation for the animals to graze on.  Thirst here is perpetual.  The need for quenching is everywhere.   In this dry desert place water is very valuable.  Thirsting is common.   I ask myself, does the physical need so overwhelm that there is no sensitivity to the spiritual need to be quenched.  The answer will be unfolded in the weeks to come.