Not long ago, I endured a season of loneliness and isolation.

Although, I was surrounded by people that loved me, plenty of places to visit, and tons of distracting things, I felt like I was on a deserted island.

Unfamiliar waters with frightening waves, generated by the fierce winds, surrounded me.

And, my goal was to not let this unpleasant, nonetheless, necessary season overtake me.

I didn’t want to stay on the island, and I, especially, didn’t want to become an island.

There are distinct differences between the two metaphors-  being on an island and becoming an island.

The former is acknowledging that your life situation has you in a temporary circumstance. While the latter is the aftermath of not understanding temporary situations and the victories that await you through enduring and growing from them.

I am the first to concede how easy it is to be derailed, defeated, and defined by a season.

I have the scars and wounds to prove it.  But, I also have the stories of restoration, redemption and rehabilitation that are a byproduct of them. I share my stories with others because they testify to mercy, grace, hope and unconditional love.

From the beginning of my deserted island season, my heart and mind knew that I was a visitor passing through, and like other unfortunate seasons, that this to would pass.

Sooner than later, I would have to enter into those uncharted waters that surrounded me.

But this time around, I would yield to the waves, and not wrestle with them. They would take me to my next destination, as well as, teach me a thing or two about life along the way.

I wondered then….about water. This element that is vital to our existence. It is so versatile, it can change its very state into three forms, it can nourish, yet destroy. It is essential to life, but too much can end it. Hmmm….water. I think we can take it for granted, after all it’s only…..water!

But lately, water has been making it’s presence very much known to me in subtle ways.

After watching a play, The Little Mermaid, at the Shakespeare Theatre, my daughters and I went down to the docks. The sound of undulating waves splashing against the walls of the piers was quite soothing to my soul.

While attending a school conference at the Sheraton Plaza, I walked out to the patio area during a break and to my pleasant surprise, there was the Chicago River and the ferries that traversed it. Such beautiful scenery, as the reflection of the surrounding architecture contorted in its waters. I savored it as much as my coffee and apple danish.

During a week in July, we endured a week of torrential downpours. It seemed like the rain would never stop. I would gaze out my bay window, as the rain, coming down in waves, nourished my very green, very long grass. I started to wonder, if I was literally going to be surrounded by water

Then after the heavenly faucet was closed, the dryness hit. Arid and hot, with no relief.  My wilted plants badly needed help from the garden hose. As I watered the plants, they immediately took in the water, the dirt soaked in as much of the water it could, before it drained out of bottom of the pot. 

That is when water is downright revitalizing, rejuvenating, and refreshing… ahh!

It makes up 71 percent of the Earth’s surface. The human body is approximately 60 percent water. A human can’t go over a week without it before dying, unlike food, which one can go without for much longer periods of time.

It’s significance can’t be disclaimed.

During my season, I entered the water, and it immediately consumed me. 

I was in over my head. But, I was breathing just fine.

If anything, I wanted the waves to take me farther into the unknown deep.

Oddly enough,the more I yielded to the waves, the safer and more secure I felt. The waves became my shelter and my faith became my shield.

During this season, I discovered a treasure chest filled with my memories of where water played a key role.  From these moments I have gained priceless nuggets of wisdom that I will intend to share through my next series of posts.

As I recalled and reflected on these childhood and adolescent memories, I learned in unique ways how water gave me the Hope 2 Overcome…