Do you know the power of water? I got involved in a conversation about water in the Post Office car park!

An elderly man was telling another guy how he had been advised to drink lots of water, and now he was so much brighter,and generally felt much better. He was still walking with a stick, but seemed so much more upbeat. He had cut out all tea and coffee. And now he felt more cheerful with fewer aches. He said he was sipping about 2 litres a day, about 4 pints.

At that point another neighbour arrived in the car park and he recounted how he had had to take his adult son to A&E and they had actually recommended that he include plenty of water in his lifestyle. So father had joined his son in this to encourage him. Physical symptoms were eased, but whereas depression is not far away normally, he too said he had felt a lift in mood. And this was quite unexpected. Better than medication!

At this point I arrived and they called across to me, did I know the power of water? I was able to say that my other half is also a 2 litre man. And he too, has ongoing health benefits from the power of water. It keeps us in working order.

Interestingly I was telling a friend of mine about this conversation, and she went ‘Ugghh! I hate drinking water.’ This is such a common reaction.

Eventually these ‘training’ methods are no longer needed as our body adjusts itself to the most natural fluid in the world.

Our bodies are made up of 7/8 water. We need water. Not just in hot weather but even in the middle of winter. If we consider what we drink, there are often drugs added to the water – tea, coffee, and alcohol. If not these, then we might be having fruit juices. But these refreshing drinks are so concentrated, our kidneys have to work very hard to process them. Better to eat the fruit with the fibres.

So tomorrow reach for a tall glass and keep sipping all through the day. 3 pints for a woman, and 4 pints for a man. This is a good guideline.

Very soon you might be able to join in the conversation in the car park about the power of water!

Today my Bank was asking me how well I slept last night, how much I feel I am carrying, are things getting on top of me, does life feel heavy – all on a scale of 1-5. Apparently scammers know that certain days are worse then others for people and they take advantage of these times when we are all more vulnerable.

I know a young person for whom life is very tough. Almost every day is one just to be survived and lived through. And sometimes the getting through proves too much and everything crumbles and goes to pieces. From this point it is a long way to climb back up out of the pit.

However when D was writing to me this week, the comment was made that the things of nature are so exquisite and detailed, and the colour combinations are just so beautiful that only God could have been so creative. Why do we doubt God? In these few words I sensed that for just a few seconds, peace had passed into the heart and given something pleasurable and cheery even if only or a very short time.

Another person with whom I am in touch described going for walks in the night into the woods and meadows and just taking the time to stop and be still, to hear the soft rustlings and sounds of the night, to see the antlers of a deer passing nearby, or the silvery light of an almost full moon. The fragrances of the night are very special as the come to the nostrils.

For just a few moments both these people experienced something different. It was the effect of the nature around them or within their sight. I have often wondered if troubled minds would be helped by a period of time in nature where they could feel the nature effect and be benefited. A wellness centre offered the option of alternative accommodation, a log cabin that opened onto a lake far separated from other troubled people. There in the morning stillness, they could hear a fish jump, and watch the ripples or see a shy bird in the reeds or admire a sunbathing dragonfly. Slowly the shoulders could drop, the breathing slow down, and let the nature effect take over and pour its tranquility on a distressed heart and mind.

This is what our God intended for us. He gave the nature effect. Maybe we should take time to find it too for a few minutes each day – and say Thank You!