Take Me to the Water
Table Talk
Setting the Table
You are welcome here. Come just as you are, bringing whatever is on your heart today. Take a few moments and allow yourself to just be. Take a couple deep breaths, grab yourself a cup of coffee, light a candle, do something that brings you comfort. Allow yourself to be present in this moment.
Consider the fact that all of creation is dependent on water as a source of life and renewal.
Water links us to our neighbor in a way more profound and complex than any other.
— John Thorson
There's something about the water — that solitary kind of peaceful feeling. You're on Earth but not quite.
— John C. Reilly
John 7:37-38
..."Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water'."
Food for Thought
One of my favorite (defunct) podcasts was called Another Round, and at the end of every episode, they would remind their listeners to, “Drink your water, take your meds, and call your person.” This is good advice for all of us when we are trying to take care of ourselves. I have specifically been thinking about water this summer because a post recently popped up on my social media explaining the benefits of being around water. Being in or near water, what experts call “blue spaces,” helps make us more calm. When we find ourselves by a body of water we can better experience the awe and wonder of being near something so much larger than ourselves. Listening to the sounds of nature or floating in water can soothe us and even promote our mental health. I have adapted the advice this summer for myself to focus on water, so here is my version of Another Round, “Blue Space Edition.”
Drink your water! My 40oz cup (you know the one) is never far from me, but it takes attention and care to drink two of them every day. I feel better when I trade out my emotional support Diet Coke for ice water, and since the heat has really ramped up, I have noticed a big difference in how I feel on the days that I manage to have more water. This is an area where being mindful of taking care of myself really matters. Many of the things that benefit us in our lives, from drinking water to focusing on a hobby, or even training for a marathon, are not going to take place unless we plan and make time for them. Focusing on drinking water helps me make space for taking care of myself in a meaningful way.
Take your meds! Of course we should take our actual medications (thank you to my allergy meds for getting me through the day), but this is about taking care of ourselves in whatever way works best — providing ourselves with whatever life-giving antidote we need to calm and support our bodies and minds. I know that I feel better when I get daily exercise and that is part of what I have to do to take care of myself. My neighborhood is named after a lake that is close enough for my daily walks. Rain or shine, heat or cold, I try to get there every day and take a picture to document the lake reflected in the sky. Being by the water gives me a sense of peace that is difficult to find in other places. In the summer, our neighborhood pool provides a respite. It is a place to cool off, and a place of recreation and relaxing (you are more likely to find me reading beside the pool than swimming in it). If you don’t have access to a body of water, don’t despair! Research shows that visiting a fountain or even a bathtub can help reduce anxiety. Moving your body or taking a few minutes to calm yourself can make a huge difference to your mental health.
Call your person! One of the joys of having good neighbors is seeing friends without having to plan anything. Likewise, there are spaces in my life where my family hangs out, like our neighborhood pool, where friends are already there, which is a joy. But, like the other things on this list, it takes intention to reach out when those around you and in your circles of caring aren’t immediately available. It takes intention to invite friends to lunch, to make space for them in your life. It takes intention to put down my phone and engage with my family in the evening. For me, “calling your person” is also an invitation to spend time in prayer or scripture, to drink the “living water” of being in a relationship with God and to let God’s teachings shape my life and my responses. Being in relationship with others, being a part of community, helps us all feel less alone, and may even provide a way to help others. Bonus points if you get to hang out by some water!
Summertime is an invitation to let our rhythms change, to spend time in some “blue space” and to let the water change us, whether that is drinking more water, spending time by the water, or taking in the living water that Jesus offers us. How are you being changed by the water this summer?
How much water do you drink everyday? Perhaps you can increase your water intake by making a game out of it — take a sip whenever you hear a familiar word or phrase, like “you’re muted” or “are we there yet?”.
If your Summer schedule is already in full swing and you are in need of a fun way to stay connected with friends and loved ones through meaningful conversation, check out The Traveling Table! This FREE downloadable eBook series, can go with you wherever you go this Summer, and there is something for everyone!
For a printable version of today's reflection Click Here!
Blessing
God of living water,
Guide our bodies and minds toward healthier and more sustainable patterns of well-being and relationship. Help us remember that we are worthy and deserving of all the benefits of healing for ourselves and our world, not only those of water, but also those of intention, self-care, and community.
Amen.
A little Table Talk for your table...
How has being around water changed you? Do you notice a change in your mood? Stress levels?
What people in your life are sources of living water for you? Reach out to them with intention and let them know how much it means that they are a part of your life.
Take a few moments together to talk about the ways that access to clean water differs around the world. Make a list of the ways you can help make a difference. Maybe consider finding a clean water organization that you could join in helping with the global water crisis.
Try taking it to the Kids Table...
Do your kids like water? What are images of water that come to mind for them? Have them draw some of their favorite examples of water from their own lived experience, or that they have seen or imagined seeing in the world.
Ask your kiddos, “why is water important for our world?” Remind them that all living things need water to survive.
Talk with your children about the ways that access to clean water differs around the world. There are many who do not have access to a clean and sustainable water source. Talk together about ways you can help make a difference.
Meet our Welcoming Voice!
Kari Baumann is the Pastor to Children and Families at College Park Baptist Church in Greensboro, NC. A former school librarian, Kari is passionate about progressive faith education for children and incorporates picture books in her programming. She lives in Greensboro with her husband, an elementary school teacher, and her son, a middle schooler. She enjoys reading, walking in the local park, and attending concerts and live theater. Her most recent concert was Maggie Rogers.
To hear more from Kari throughout the week, follow along on our Instagram!
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