The pool instructor may have said a thousand words I didn’t give heed to. Yet, something he said caught my attention. He said: “Whatever you do, keep the water moving, don’t let it stagnate. Bad things happen when water is stagnant.” What came to my mind was the thought of mosquitoes laying their eggs and their new offsprings terrorizing the compound. I thought of algae growth with that repulsive slimy look. I thought how quickly the sparkling water could quickly become an eyesore if let to stagnate.

 

Water is Life

The pool instructor was right in many ways than one. Spiritually, water refers to a multitude of people, to you and I. Water refers to life. When it is said that someone kicked the bucket, it is a reference to water (life) being poured out, never to be recouped in the natural. Water also refers to the Holy Spirit (out of him shall flow rivers of living water). Notice that this is a flowing river, not a stagnant lake. I’m so glad the Lord “LEADETH me beside the still waters” (Psalm 23:2) – it’s a moving process. No standing still around stagnant waters – it stinks.

 

Heed The Pool Instructor

When you stop dreaming up new dreams (no matter how small), because of the past oppression you received, which caused perceived failure, regression sets in. In life, you don’t really break even. You are either facilitating a surplus or plunging into debt. Sustained, continuous and intentional effort is required to keep you flowing. Yes, there are interludes in life’s ebb and flow, times of respite after you’ve taken a beating, but reapply yourself as quickly as possible. Take to another discipline, if necessary. Heed the pool instructor’s admonition: that if you stop flowing (growing spiritually), all sorts of bad things begin to happen – actually you start dying.

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water – John 7:38