Water.

"We give up something for Lent to align ourselves with the heart, will, and experience of Jesus. Fasting teaches us that we are not utterly subject to our bodily desires. And in sated and overfed America, fasting reminds us, sharply, of the poor." - Lauren Winner

Water is essential for human life, and it is something that I take for granted. So, today I ordered my (fair trade) large nonfat sugar-free vanilla latte and relished every drop.

I also drank a few cups of hot tea, hoping maybe if I had enough, I wouldn't want anymore. Wrong. For the season of Lent, I've decided to drink only water.

I am so fortunate to have access to clean drinking water, something 20% of the world's population does not have, merely because of an accident of geography (Bono's term, not mine, unfortunately..). Many researchers believe that the majority of the unrest and violence in Africa over the next 25 years will be "Water Wars" among countries vying for the depleting amounts of water throughout the continent . That's something I just can't stomach.

According to World Water Day, "The world water crisis is one of the largest public health issues of our time. Nearly 1.1 billion people (roughly 20% of the world’s population) lack access to safe drinking water. The lack of clean, safe drinking water is estimated to kill almost 4,500 children per day. In fact, out of the 2.2 million unsafe drinking water deaths in 2004, 90% were children under the age of five. Water is essential to the treatment of diseases, something especially critical for children."

So, I want to get in touch with water. It's the resource that everyone I know takes for granted, but that so many are dying for every day. I hope that as I moan and groan about not having coffee, tea, juice, etc. I might not only be thankful that I am able to drink this clean water, but also think of that large population in the world that is going without the very thing I'm complaining about.

One more thought: "We fast during Lent because when we willingly give up something we delight in but do not, strictly speaking, need, we come closer to participating in, understanding, and reverencing the self-emptying act that is Christ on the Cross." -Lauren Winner, again.

So I'm also hoping that for the next 40 days, I might discover the many many things that I do not need and rediscover those things that I truly need, namely Jesus.