The Many Thoughts of Wanda Kidd

Psalms 84:5-7
And how blessed all those in whom you live,
whose lives become roads you travel;
They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks,
discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain!
God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and
at the last turn—Zion! God in full view! The Message

What is it about a small pool of warm water in a rock formation or adjacent to a
flowing river that makes total strangers congregate and swap stories? I asked myself
that question last February while my friend Devita Parnell and I explored part of Big
Bend National Park.

There were metal signs that pointed to the path that led to the hot springs. Hot
springs are not all of that rare in the desert. It is a geothermal phenomenon that can
be found many places throughout the world. In the county where I live in Western
North Carolina is a small town called Hot Springs because it does indeed boast of hot
springs that have brought visitors there for a very long time.

I have been to Hot Springs, Arkansas. That town has built an industry around their
hot springs, and if you have ever been to Yellowstone, you know that there are
dangerous hot springs there. However, in the brochures that I have seen of these
places of healing and relaxation, there have always been only one or two people in
the pools and they seem to be having a private moment.

Therefore, I was most surprised when we hiked up the trail on a mild day in February
and found a very small pool, with a seemingly disproportionate number of people
relaxing in the morning sun. Some came prepared for the event with towels and
swimwear, while others took a more spontaneous approach, slipping in wearing their
t-shirt and shorts, but it was not their attire that fascinated me.
No, it was how quickly the group accepted whomever arrived and included them in
the conversation. There were all ages of people there, from toddlers to grandparents,
all shapes of people, and people from a variety of places.

People shared their journeys of where they were from and the roads they had take
to get there and not one person proverbially rolled his eyes or ignored the person
sharing their story. We had gathered in the desert to sit in healing and soothing
waters, to take the time to absorb the moment. It was a holy moment. It was
Church.
Prayer:
God of Healing and comfort, Please help us to recognize the sacred moments in our
life when they present themselves and teach us to practice leaning into them. Amen