19th day of Lent- Psalm 65:9

"You visit the earth and water it,
    you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
    you provide the people with grain,
    for so you have prepared it." Psalm 65:9

Today's devotion by Vonda Drees is a painting she drew with the words, "No water, no life.  No blue, no green."  It carries forward the theme begun yesterday, that water is essential for life. It is God's gift, as Psalm 65:9 says so clearly.  When we lived in Minnesota, water was abundant.  Not only is it the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," but groundwater tapped for wells is also abundant.  And then there is the regular rain and snow, that waters the earth.  Salt Lake City is very different.  Utah is the second driest state in the nation, much of the south and west are arid, desert regions.  The vast majority of the population of the state lives along the "Wasatch Front," or along the Wasatch Mountains that are so well known for winter recreation and abundant snow.  It's the snow up in the mountains that also provides most of the water for people living down below.  There are not abundant lakes, rivers, and rainfall here. Water conservation is critical, and yet I'm surprised how much water continues to be used on lawns for green grass and for other non-essential uses.  Our congregation has been trying to figure out ways to be better stewards of this water resource.   I've heard it said that as the population grows and the planet continues to heat up, wars in the future will be fought over water, not oil.  I hope that's not true.  I hope people and nations are smart enough to realize that "No water, no life.  No blue, no green."  I can't control the water use of everyone else. But I can control my own.  As we turn the corner towards spring, let's think about the precious gift of water, and how we use this gift.