Power of Water

Do you ever stop and think of the complexity of water. Maybe not the chemical breakdown, but the sure duality as a life force and destructive menus. On my first weekend in Chicago I say first-hand the sheer madness of water.

After being in the car for fifteen hours the day before, I took it upon myself to make my way to the lake shore. There is no better way to explore a city then to shove on your sneakers and get lost in the hustle and bustle while figuring out your own way. (Luckily Chicago is a grid system, so I actually don't get lost all that often!) Out of breath I reached the lake, my burning legs stumbled to the rock wall, and I collapsed on the cool granite. Before me the majestic beauty of a seemingly endless body of water calmed my anxious heart as I sat back and reflected on my relocation to Chicago. The gray sky kissed the deep blue abyss that could have gone on to eternity....or to Wisconsin:-) It was this sight that started my reflection on the power of water. By far my favorite aspect of Chicago to date is Lake Michigan. Sitting before the shimmering liquid, abandon to any worldly concern, I search for God. Asking the hard questions in the peace of the stillness that lies before me, I find grace, answers, and mercy. Laughing at how something as simple as a lake could make me feel the power of the creator of the universe close at hand. As hours rolled on like moments, I finally picked myself up and made the trek back into to the city. Relaxed and full of joy at the prospect of the future. Thankful for the simple beauty of water.

However, that night water turned on the city. It started as a light rain, but as Friday turned into Saturday and Saturday turned into Sunday, the entire region of Albany Park registered the most rain in 137 years. The river had overflowed onto the streets, three buildings on North Park Campus were evacuated, local residents forced out of their homes, power outages left and right, and mass chaos erupting on every corner. Water...simple H2O... coming from the sky had pulled the city to a halt. Again, laughter came forth as I reflected on the complexity of the effects of water.

More then a week has now past and the flooding has subsided, the neighborhood is practically back to normal and the craziness of the flood a distant memory. But water, water remains. What is it about water that makes my heart seek the goodness of God? Perhaps it is the nature of water.....it can smooth the roughest stone, cut through the deepest rock, it is necessary for the preservation of humankind, it quenches the greatest thirst, and the simple beauty of a larger body of water brings hope to the hopeless.

Who knows? All I know is I love the Lake and am thankful for each drop of water that comes my way.