John Singer Sargent shared this moment again from his trip to Spain and northern Africa. It stands in nearly complete contrast to his El Jaleo, a moment in Spain from this trip and the subject of my last reflection. This Impressionistic painting done with few details has an “I just woke up,” early morning quality as we stand with figures in black crowded at a trickle of water with huge jugs. As the sun rises the somber and sleepy quality of this scene seems to hold the weight of a desperate, daily chore accomplished against the harshness of limitation and climate. This view may have been revelatory and compassion-inspiring when Sargent shared it. All these years later it seems to ask us to remember the water carriers around our world and their continuing struggle. This work is in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Have you noticed how artists often work at the edge of blessing and privilege holding up painted mirrors that we can choose to see through, or not? Consider this painting. Have you ever known concern about the need for and lack of water? Have you ever imagined working hard to gather water from a stream rather than turning on a tap? Maybe you have when camping with a water treatment kit at hand but that doesn’t seem to count here. Have you ever offered water to someone as a live-sustaining gift? Have you ever done anything to conserve water for the greater good?

Now on our own hot summer days may our prayers include the people in our country and around our world who work every day to gather water and life’s barest necessities. We are called by our faith in God to suffer with them, to send our prayers, to share what we have and do what we can.

May it be so.

In gratitude, faith and hope,

Sandy Prouty
Minister of Children and Families
Montview Church