Life in a Water Tower

Sometimes in life, we see things as if we are in the middle of a water tower drain. We watch the water go down in a spiral current and because we're watching, we go down with it. And we find ourselves stuck against the grate of the drainage system. The grate seems to press against our faces, with seemingly vain hope that something will save us.

We begin to feel all is lost; love has no chance, and suffering knows no end. Little--and I stress the little--do we know, there is hope. One who loves and atones for us, reaching down, lifting us out of the turmoil. One who has the strength to pick us up when we were the ones that jumped in the first place.

This One looks at us as we are staring into nothingness; our blank stares lacking luster. The invitation is calling. We are not too far distant yet. And we begin to see how desperate He is in pleading with us to continue in hope. Yet, in our minds, we see the water, the drain, and the imprint of that grate is etched into our faces.

But the vision comes clearer. He presses; he urges; and suddenly the water you are holding onto is expelled into the unknown and sometimes uncomfortable. We breathe in and for the first time, in a long time, we start to taste how sweet the air is. We perceive that water tower as if it's something we need not dread but learn to welcome.

And He looks down as we are lying there, tasting the air, and smiles. Amidst His countless attempts to rescue us, the stress, the heartache, it was He who showed praise when we didn't cease to breathe.

Here, is Hope.