Here in Cambodia, and I am certain in the majority of developing countries, one must be very careful when it comes to drinking water. In this particular region, unless water has undergone a process of being purified at least three times, it is not suitable to drink. In fact, it is downright dangerous. Even to brush one's teeth using water from the tap is not advisable. One may wash oneself with it, but one must never drink it.
I found myself in situations in which I have been without water to drink, whether it was due to having just arrived somewhere or having miscalculated my hydration requirements. In the event of having done this, I find myself in a position of reflection, not merely upon my physical thirst and inability to quench it, but upon what it is like to be spiritually parched. All around me is water, but I dare not drink it. Unless I drink from the proper source, I can neither rehydrate nor hope to safely preserve my health and, ultimately, my life.
In this land, indeed, in this world, there are many sources of water. We are surrounded by it, in fact. And yet, the prevailing truth of the matter is that unless we drink the water that has been purified, the water that is suitable for and intended for us to drink, we will only inflict harm upon ourselves. And we cannot do without it, or we shall surely die.
I am, at this very moment, without any drinking water. There is a sink, a shower head, a hose outside for watering the garden, a basin with water intended for lavatorial purposes, but nothing that I can drink. It is a truly terrible sensation, not merely to be thirsty, but to know that I cannot satiate my thirst even when I have so many sources from which I could achieve that satisfaction. I must not drink, and therefore I cannot drink.
I see thirst that is rampant here. Thirst for hope, thirst for love, and thirst for life. But the water here is tainted.
I found myself in situations in which I have been without water to drink, whether it was due to having just arrived somewhere or having miscalculated my hydration requirements. In the event of having done this, I find myself in a position of reflection, not merely upon my physical thirst and inability to quench it, but upon what it is like to be spiritually parched. All around me is water, but I dare not drink it. Unless I drink from the proper source, I can neither rehydrate nor hope to safely preserve my health and, ultimately, my life.
In this land, indeed, in this world, there are many sources of water. We are surrounded by it, in fact. And yet, the prevailing truth of the matter is that unless we drink the water that has been purified, the water that is suitable for and intended for us to drink, we will only inflict harm upon ourselves. And we cannot do without it, or we shall surely die.
I am, at this very moment, without any drinking water. There is a sink, a shower head, a hose outside for watering the garden, a basin with water intended for lavatorial purposes, but nothing that I can drink. It is a truly terrible sensation, not merely to be thirsty, but to know that I cannot satiate my thirst even when I have so many sources from which I could achieve that satisfaction. I must not drink, and therefore I cannot drink.
I see thirst that is rampant here. Thirst for hope, thirst for love, and thirst for life. But the water here is tainted.
