Randy Suits

Thirsting for the Water of Life

My darling Ewa, who quenches my thirst for love,

The ‘Sons of the Pioneers’, a popular western quartet, sang about a prospector and his mule named Dan parched in the hot sun and thirsty for a refreshing, life restoring drink of water. The lyrics tell a story of craving water as all else fades from the mind except a replenishment of life sustaining water.

‘Cool Water’ written by Bob Nolan and sung by the Sons of the Pioneers

All day I’ve faced a barren waste

Without the taste of water, cool water.

Old Dan and I with throats burnt dry

And souls that cry for water,

Cool, clear water.

The nights are cool and I’m a fool,

Each star’s a pool of water, cool water.

But with the dawn I’ll wake and yawn

And carry on to water,

Cool, clear water.

Keep a-movin’, Dan, don’t you listen to him, Dan,

He’s a devil not a man

And he spreads the burning sand with water,

Cool water.

Dan, can you see that big green tree

Where the water’s running free

And it’s waiting there for me

And you?

The shadows sway and seem to say,

“Tonight we pray for water,

Cool water.”

And way up there He’ll hear our prayer

And show us where there’s water,

Cool, clear water.

Dan’s feet are sore, he’s yearning for

Just one thing more than water,

Cool water.

Like me, I guess, he’d like to rest

Where there’s no quest for water,

Cool, clear water.

His search for gold brought the thirst driven prospector to a dry and baren land. The lost sinners of the world who need to drink from the eternal fountain of life are seeking riches which perish. Wandering about without direction in life they are dying of thirst when the source of living water is as near as their heart and as close as a prayer. The heart is the door of Christ for the love of Christ enters the human soul through the heart (seat of human being). Christ abides in and with us. The Mind of Christ opens the tomb of doubt in man that creates an uncrossable divide between the mind of God and the misguided thoughts of natural man. Jesus, our Savior, bridges the impasse of sin and the rebelious state of man. The prospector sees a mirage in the distance and in his lost state, man without Christ, is delusional. Imagines of success are but a mirage which lead him deeper into the wilderness. As he wanders in circles, hope turns to discouragement which leads to despondency. Finally, panic sets in with the realization that he has returned to the beginning of the journey and found no water (real satisfaction, i.e. is that all there is?). Attainment of ungodly goals always brings disappointment and sorrow. But the prayer of the prospector will deliver him from certain death as God leads him to those essential elements of life. In the final verse we hear the soul of the prospector communing with God as he looks forward to eternal rest in agreement with God. Many people travel listlessly, thirsting for the water of life. Without hope they never come to a saving knowledge of Christ. In the soul of every man is a desire for spiritual rest and oneness with his Creator God where there is no longer a quest for the Water of Life (presence of God). The book of Revelation tells us that the River of Life will flow through the Holy City of New Jerusalem where Gods’ people will abide in joy and peace, forever drinking freely of the Water of Life.

We look forward to our reward in Christ,Kochany