Water has reflective properties, thus it seems fitting to reflect on the things I saw during our week of Stream Ecology. We learned a lot about stream characteristics, in particular the characteristics of a watershed and how they affect the flow of the rest of the stream. A watershed is the land from which all the river’s water originates. If the ground in the watershed is porous, flow will be slower and less water will drain into the river. If the land is deforested, then erosion of soil will cause the river water to be more turbid with runoff. If the land is used for excessive agricultural purposes, then the river might be polluted with agricultural runoff.
If the world were a stream, I think followers of Christ would be the watershed. If we take our position seriously, if we live as faithful stewards, caring for creation (both the people and the land) and if we show Christ’s love to those around us, then our lives will share the Living Water of Christ (John 4) with everyone we meet on our journey on this earth. However, if we fail to be mindful of the impact we have, we can just as easily contribute negatively to this “stream.” If we profess our faith and then fail to live sustainably and care for the marginalized and oppressed, then we might be shedding a negative light on Christianity. We have the power to make an incredible impact on the Kingdom because God’s Living Water lives inside of us and can fill and flow out of us. I was reminded during Stream Ecology that this gift is not something I should take lightly.
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