Last year when I returned from Uganda, I think the most important revelation that I had was how thankful I was for clean, running water. America is blessed, exceedingly.
I am currently reading Awake by Noel Brewer Yeatts. And on this hot day, I'm reading a chapter about WATER! Yep. A reminder of our American wealth and the harsh reality of death and disease that plagues the rest of the world. This particular passage caught my attention:
I don't like to simply focus on numbers, because each of these numbers represents a life and a story. Numbers can also too easily seem overwhelming. But some numbers are helpful- the numbers that show how easy it is a make a difference.
The worldwide water crisis could be solved with 20-30 billion dollars a year. Yet Americans spend $16 billion each year on bottled water alone.
Americans also spend an average of $700 each at Christmas, which, with a population of a little over 300 million, works out to over $210 billion. Even if we take the high estimate of $30 billion, if just half the population set aside $200 of their Christmas spending and put it toward the water crisis the problem could be solved!
Sometimes numbers make a lot of sense.
Did you flush your toilet today? Just once? You have already used more water than the average African has for an entire day- for drinking, cooking, cleaning, bathing, washing... everything. Just one flush.
She goes on to say that our perspective of water is associated with swimming, fishing, fun.
Perhaps we need to change our perspective of water?
So today... when you have a glass of ice water, drink from a water bottle, go swimming.... or flush your toilet. Remember that you are among the worlds wealthiest and healthiest.
