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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER (02/28/19)
My husband described our month-long trip through Europe as a Whitman Sampler. We landed in England, took a train to Scotland and then worked our way through country after country until we reached Rome.

I began to notice the absence of just regular water in Scotland. I had not realized just how much I would crave it until it was no longer available.

I did not care for the offered sparkling water, nor did I wish to drink a Coke full of caffeine. But a glass of just regular water did not seem to be an option. So, I drank Coke. As someone who had avoided caffeine for years, I soon felt the effects. I was jittery and even had heart palpitations.

We were in Germany when we met some Americans in a train station. As we visited, I complained about the lack of plain water. That’s when we discovered we needed to order “still” water to receive the non-sparkling kind.

What a revelation.

That experience never left me. You see, I remembered a scripture in Psalms that said:

“He leads me beside still waters” Psalm 23:2 (ESV)

In my life journey, I had lived years just accepting the Coke and suffering the effects of caffeine. There had been no longing for still water, because I had never experienced it. In fact, I was not even aware that was an option. Then came the day of my discovery.

What a revelation.

My spirit is no longer jittery. My heart is serene as I allow the still water to soothe me. It is beyond my comprehension to think I could choose to quench my thirst with Coke.

And no matter where I go, the tranquility He offers is delivered even before I ask.
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This article has been read 733 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Barbara Culler 
03/07/19
I loved this piece! When you brought up still water, my mind went to that verse in the psalms, and then you talked about it. What a perfect segue! I really liked how you tied up the option of a coke to still water life. Well done, and I sure hope this places well!
Jenny Miller
03/07/19
What an amazing revelation. I love when God shows us things through life experience and those little things. This was written so well! Well done. Wow is all I can say.
Laurie Glass 
03/07/19
You caught my attention in the beginning, and I like how you tied everything together. Nice job.
Betty Castleberry
03/07/19
I love the water analogy you used here. This held my interest from first word to last. Very nicely done.
Verna Cole Mitchell 
03/08/19
This is a wonderful devotional piece. I like the discovery that brings up the analogy to "still water," and the connection you made with the Twenty-third Paslm.
C D Swanson 
03/08/19
Simply Beautiful!
Thank you.
Blessings~
Corinne Smelker 
03/08/19
What a unique take on the topic, and so fitting too.

As a Brit now living in the States I realised there are many terms and phrases that do not translate from one side of the pond to the other.

This is well written and definitely gives me pause for thought on my own coke/versus water choices.
Allison Egley 
03/09/19
I liked this. And I'll have to keep this in mind, should I ever venture across the ocean. I really don't like carbonation of any sort, so neither sparkling water nor soda would work for me.

I feel like maybe you could have expanded on this a bit. Like maybe a conversation with a waiter about what you want, and him not understanding you. I know now. It really does work as is, but I would have liked to see a bit more.

Definitely a good spiritual reminder here too! Still water.
Joanney Uthe 
03/10/19
I also would have been yearning for real water, as I do not like sparkling water and gave up pop/soda a few years ago. (Never did like colas, so Coke was out anyway.)

I like the tie-in to the Psalm and the analogy of coke vs water in our lives. This might have been strengthened by expanding it a bit, but is still strong as is.

Great job.
Mariane Holbrook
03/13/19
This was worth a second read through. My vision of heaven has always been walking with my Savior through a green meadow to sit beside a gently flowing creek of still water. Your entry made it even more real.
C D Swanson 
03/14/19
Congrats!
Blessings~