40 Days of Water

Today I received a rain-soaked package from Nashville, Tennessee.

These were inside:




They go with this:



In less than a week, I'm giving up my coffee, my tea, and my amaretto sours.* For forty days I'll drink nothing but water, and the money I save will be set aside, held for something far more important than curing my caffeine-deficiency headache.

For most of us, water is a seemingly unlimited commodity. Clean water is everywhere; we drink it from sinks and coolers and bottles. We get it in parks and on sidewalks, and even at the end of a hose.

I have to remind myself to drink water. At work I keep a cup on my desk, though it is often neglected in favor of a coffee cup. I have a choice. I can drink water, or I can drink something else. The cooler and the espresso machine are both not more than a few steps away from my desk.

I can't imagine what it would be to have to walk a mile, or more, for one drink of water. And to find, upon arriving, that it is contaminated with insects and other substances so foul it would make our stomach turn to even think of it.

Just one of our American dollars could provide clean water to one African for one year.

One dollar. For a whole year.

I spent five times that this morning on just one smoothie.

That's not right.

So I've given up my 40 days. I've surrendered them to this mission, to honoring our brothers and sisters in this struggle, and to, even in such a small way, partnering with them to ease the burden.

And I'd encourage you to do the same. Visit www.bloodwatermission.com. Check out the organization, see the projects they're involved in, and think about ways you can help.

Our choices, for better or worse, can have a global impact. Take charge of your footprint, and do something good.






*A note: Most of my drinks, including my beloved espresso, is free, thanks to working alongside a cool student-focused organization. So, by giving them up I'm not really saving any money. I'll be putting aside a yet-to-be-determined small amount for each. It won't be fully equivalent to purchasing from a coffee shop because I can't afford that (which is part of the reason I don't do it), but it'll be some token that I guarantee will add up significantly over time. In any case, this action is equally about the action and the money. So no other drinks, even if they are free.