I Want Water – Forever!

Riding my horse, Ginger, across the soft meadow, the sweet smell of clover drifts upwards. My eyes naturally gravitate downward to observe the many rounded white and purple blooms that are scattered generously throughout the meadow. But as I gaze over the gently waving landscape beneath me, it is a sea of not only clover, but species of bluestem grasses, grama grasses, purpletops and many others I do not know the names of. All I know is that the carpet is so thick that a prairie chicken’s nest would not be seen until Ginger cracked an egg. This is a snapshot in my mind from years ago, but thankfully, each year when I visit the home ranch, the picture has been redeveloped – for now.

My dad would tell me, as I was trying to understand things,  that the meadows looked good because they were  sub-irrigated. When he would see my questioning look, he would explain that this meant there was an underground water supply that laid near the surface. Because of this, we had no need of pivot systems to grow great hay for our cattle. Also, because of this water supply near the surface it would have been best had we not had a basement in our house. Many times, when running an errand to grab something from the deep-freeze downstairs,my socks became saturated with ground water, seeping up through the cement floor.

This vast water supply is called the Ogallala Aquifer. It underlies an estimated 174,000 square miles of the Central Plains and spans into portions of eight states. It holds as much water as Lake Huron – nearly 3 billion acre feet of the valuable resource. It is considered a “fossil water” meaning it originated a very long time ago from melted glaciers. It is the major source of irrigation water throughout the eight state area where it lies. This aquifer provides the foundation for the large percentage of the food supply that feeds our nation. Extraordinary amounts of water are taken from it yearly, taking its tole on the water levels. In one Kansas study of the aquifer it has been shown that the water table in some western counties has dropped by as much as two feet per year. This water supply is considered a non-renewable resource, and alarmingly – if depleted,  is estimated to take over 6000 years to replenish naturally through rainfall. This same study also suggests that this depletion could happen in the next 50 years. Thankfully, many scientists and environmentalists realize this possibility and are working on solutions to the problem.

My great niece  – age seven, and her three younger brothers, live on the ranch I grew up on. It would sadden my heart, to see Gracelynn one day, riding across that same meadow kicking up dust and scattering sand-burrs. It’s anyone’s guess what might happen to the Ogallala Aquifer in the future.

But there’s a water supply that doesn’t have to be guessed at.  It’s a water source that quenches our thirst for the soul. Jesus is that living water. In John 7:37-38 Jesus tells us, “If you are thirsty, come to me! If you believe in me, come and drink! He promises to fill us with the living water from the well that always has enough – for anyone that asks. Don’t be timid about asking for your cup of living water. It is the water that sustains me, day in and day out – always renewable. And there’s always enough to share!

Until next month, keep on readin’ and I’ll keep on writin’.

If this type of writing appeals to you, check out my book page (may have to scroll down a few entries) to see how to obtain either of my Christian Fiction books.