The Towpath trail follows along the Ohio and Erie Canal gateway. The canal, built between 1825 and 1832, provided a successful transportation route from Cleveland, on Lake Erie, to Portsmouth, on the Ohio River. The canal opened up Ohio to the rest of the settled eastern United States. It follows along the Cuyahoga River where the river can range from rushing (not level 4 rapids, but pretty fast for a river) to almost stagnant. More the former since we have had so much rain this summer.People generally love water. Homes built along water or even with a view of the water tend to sell at much higher prices than those that are even a block away from water. Along the towpath, there are many views like the one above of the Cuyahoga. I love how therapeutic the sound of water can be. This morning, I was biking in the Bedford Reservation which adjoins the National Park by Valley View and just took a quick 10 second video of Tinkers Creek.
It is not surprising therefore to me that the word picture Jesus uses to describe Himself is "living water". A woman came to draw stagnant water from the well in John 4. Her daily routine required that she must do this to relieve thirst. Jesus says that He is living water that can perpetually satisfy the thirst within us. Parasites form in stagnant water. I get the word picture of smelly, contaminated pools of water. However, the process of living water going over rocks cleanses the water. The perpetual motion of the water over rough surfaces makes it alive. Even the dirtiest of water can be made alive if it is kept in perpetual motion. God is an active change agent so the water is constantly cleansing and renewing us and the parasites within us.
The living water does require one action however and that is to come to it and ask for it. The Cuyahoga does not come to you to enjoy it - you must go to it. Your action is simple - just ask God for it. God so much wants you to experience the living waters of salvation that come through Jesus Christ.
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