Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Isaiah 55:1
I have always taken it for granted—that the water, which comes from my tap—clear and cold—is safe to drink. No more. The tragedy in Flint, Michigan keeps us all from taking clean drinking water for granted.
We all know by now how this happened. To save money, an emergency manager chose to take water from the polluted Flint River, and then failed to treat the water properly. The water was so polluted that the corrosive chemicals in the water leached lead from the pipes.
Residents complained of the taste and color of their water. They complained of getting strange rashes over their bodies. Their complaints and their pleas for help went for too long unheard. Now scores of Flint children have tested positive for high levels of lead. These children will face the consequences of lead exposure for the rest of their lives. Others have contracted Legionnaires’ Disease and other ailments. And Flint, a city already economically distressed, faces an uncertain future of lowered property values, of continued population loss, and of a cleanup and healthcare needs that may cost billions.
I can’t help but think that the people of Flint are thirsty—not just for water, but also for justice, for compassion, and for help. Our churches are at the forefront of providing such help. Indeed, The United Methodist Church is on the ground providing bottled water and other types of assistance to the people of Flint. But the need will go on for decades. So, let’s not forget to pray and to keep on praying. Let’s not forget to act and to keep on acting. It is through our prayer and action that God invites everyone who thirsts to come to the waters of God’s mercy.
Note that you can give online to the Flint relief effort by clicking here http://bit.ly/FlintRelief
A Prayer for Flint
Lord, we pray for every child harmed, for every parent whose heart is broken, for the people whose homes are places of stress instead of rest. We pray for those who were already burdened by poverty or by illness and who burdens have increased because of this tragedy. We pray that your healing balm would overflow in Flint and that your loving mercy would abound in the lives of the people there. And we pray that you would empower the Church be a vessel of hope. In Christ. Amen.
banner image courtesy Michigan Municipal League / CC