The Theology of Dinosaurs

Water World debuted in 1995 with a scene showing Kevin Costner's character, the Mariner, drinking his own urine to stay hydrated. He put it through a variety of filters and such, and yet even without the invention of social media, I was aware of the outcry of viewers totally grossed out by the concept.

If you were one of those vocal viewers, this may not be the post for you to read.

The reality of the matter, which the movie tries to illustrate, is that the amount of water (in all of its forms) is the same amount of water there ever was on this planet, ever is, and ever will be. Water is a constant that does not renew or dissipate; it is. It is frozen. It is evaporated. It is dirty. It is clean. It is the ocean. It is in our toilet bowls.

When I allow myself to open my mind and imagination to considering that concept of water beyond whatever I am using it for in any given moment, I am suddenly aware of the ways that water connects us to one another - friends, family, and especially strangers. The water in the pipes of my home connect with each of my neighbors. The water in the Platt River connects across state lines to recreational areas and animal homes. The water I buy in a plastic bottle connects me with workers who bottled the water and the community the water came from.

Water is a key component of one of the United Methodists only two sacraments, baptism. Baptism as a ritual is to offer visual cleansing and spiritual recognition of your place in a larger community. The practice of baptism is meant to be done in and with community to further illustrate the larger impact we have upon one another as individuals part of a whole and a community towards each individual. We are unable to extricate ourselves from the interconnectedness of our faith or our existence.

I write all of this to offer an opportunity for our imaginations to begin to comprehend the vast complexity and beauty of our interconnectedness through the tangible accessibility, use, and consumption of water. No matter how much we try to isolate ourselves from the other, from our relationships, from God, water is a reminder that we are always connected.

Peace,

Rev Elizabeth

Oh! I almost forgot to explain the title of today's post.

Because the current amount of water within our atmosphere (as gas, liquid, and solid) is the same amount of water and literally the same water as has always been, it’s important for you to know you’re connected across time as well. Which means you’ve drank dinosaur pee. Don’t worry though. It’s another thing you have in common with everyone.