The Water Cooler

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ummertime in a small town has to be one of the best memories a boy could have.  It seems there was always something happening to keep your curiosity peaked and your desire for mischief at an all-time high.  I remember summers as a time when families came together for reunions, when crowds cheered as the local baseball team won the state pennant, and when churches gathered their congregations on lazy Sunday afternoons for the all-important-and-ever-essential dinner on the ground.

Whenever anyone was having one of these events, my dad usually received a phone call to reserve equipment we provided whenever people were in need.  In addition to conducting funeral services for our community, we also provided tents, chairs, and water coolers to the public.  I remember going on trips with my dad as he delivered equipment to people, organizations, and churches that were planning events for large crowds.  Whenever the city had any type of event, they always called dad for tents and water coolers.  No matter the occasion, I have fond memories of watching my dad erect tents bearing our family name and placing water coolers in strategic locations so people would have a cool drink to slake their thirst.

Of all the equipment we loaned, the water coolers stick out in my memory.  They sat approximately knee-high, were made of metal, were gray in color, and had light blue plastic interiors that were designed to keep water at a cool temperature.  On the outside of the cooler at the bottom was a spout for dispensing cold water.  Ice filled the inside and as it melted it provided enough cold water to quench the thirst of a large number of people.  A church gathering or a large event required several of these coolers and we were more than happy to provide them.

Matthew’s gospel reminds us of the importance of small gestures, like providing water coolers.  In fact, in Matthew 10:42 Jesus speaks specifically about the importance of providing a cool drink of water to those who are thirsty.  “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” 

This is a wonderful passage of scripture because there are so many truths packed into it.  First, Jesus reminds us that even a cold cup of water given in his name brings great reward.  So often we believe we must do something great for the Lord.  By great, we usually mean going above and beyond the call of duty, accomplishing a goal no one has ever done or would ever dream of doing. 

Second, Jesus reminds us of the importance of doing these “ordinary acts” to those people who are around us on a daily basis.  We are to share the good news with everyone, especially those with whom we work and live from day to day.  When we do this, Jesus says we will not lose our reward.  He is not speaking of monetary compensation; rather, he is speaking of the reward God has for those who simply obey Him and share the truth of His son by word and deed.

I can still taste the water coming from the spout of those old water coolers.  They were by no means the center of attention at any of the events they attended but those events would have been incomplete without them.  People would not have stayed long had there not been something there to satisfy their thirst. 

Today, wherever you are, I pray you are playing the role of the water cooler.  The world is a hot and dry place, zapping the life from people on a daily basis.  Everywhere you look, you see people looking for ways to cool and quench their thirsts.  Remember that Jesus said that if we provide just a cool cup of water in his name to those within our reach, our effort would not be in vain.  Are you providing people with the cool, clear water that quenches their souls?  Are you pointing the way to Jesus Christ, the living water?  Are you being a water cooler today?