Water is Life

Decorah, IA

We are surrounded by water in all its variety. It nourishes life as rain and in oceans, lakes and rivers. It is a part of us.

Water is also a metaphor for how to think about life. One of my favorite writers, Deng Ming-Dao, writes about the lessons we can learn from observing water in his book of daily meditations, Everyday Tao.

Water is flowing. Every drop is made of the same substance. Water never fears being divided, because it knows it will flow back together in time. It is eternal.

Water is powerful. Although it can be soothing, comforting, and cleansing, it can also be enormous, mighty, and overpower

ing. Its nature is constant. It is true to itself at any extreme.

Water is profound. In the depths of the lakes in the darkness of the oceans, it holds all secrets. It is dangerous. It is mysterious. Yet life came from those depths.

Water is unafraid. From any height, it will plunge fearlessly down. It will fall and not be injured.

Water is balanced. No matter what the situation is, water will seek its own level as soon as it is left alone. Water will always flow downward to the most stable level. It conforms to any situation in a balanced way.

Water is nourishing. Without water, no plant and no living creature could survive.

Water is still. It can be completely still, and in its stillness, mirror heaven perfectly.

Water is pure. It is transparent, clear, needing neither adornment nor augmentation.

~ Deng Ming-Dao