Be Still and Soak

Day after day, 100° or more...is this a scheme to cause all but the foolhardiest to run back to the coolness of the North? Will this murderous heat be the solution to overcrowding? If I wasn’t a native Texan, if I didn’t have deep roots here, if I didn’t have more to love here than the climate, I would probably run. But I know that this extremely hot summer isn’t the norm. In fact, the last two summers were unusually cool for Texas. I remember this for a particular reason, which I’ll explain.

I have a thing for water, but it wasn’t always so. A few years ago, the idea of submersion in the miraculous substance H₂0 became fixed in my consciousness. Essential for life, both its scientific properties and spiritual symbolism fascinate me. Water activities were not part of life, but I began to desire contact with water, and I wanted to do it in my own backyard. An in-ground pool was not an option, but I found the perfect solution in a stock tank pool, aka an STP.  In case you don’t know, an STP is a galvanized or polyurethane container generally used to provide water for livestock. They come in several sizes from 4 ft- 10 ft. and about 2 ft deep. They suddenly became very popular during Covid, probably because people were spending a lot more time at home.

In late August of 2020 I had an STP installed. Summer was ending and almost every day it rained or wasn’t hot enough to heat up the water sufficiently. I didn’t get to use the pool much, so I was looking forward to the next summer—but, alas, it was cooler than normal! The shade in my backyard and temperate nights kept the water too cool for me. I like warmish water—the shock of cold on my skin just doesn’t appeal, no matter how hot it is outside! I used the pool several times that summer, but not enough to satisfy that seemingly insatiable desire to be in water. That’s why I remember the two summers that weren’t hot enough to warm the water. This summer has been unusually hot, perfect for pool soaking.

I used to dread the very hot summers, but the pool has been a game changer for me. Getting wet brings my body temperature down. Inside the house I’m able to raise the thermostat to 78 and still be comfortable, though I spend the majority of time outside. Early in the morning Jasper, my cat, and I walk around the garden doing the necessary watering, clipping, and pulling weeds. It’s easy to get distracted and do more; then, before I know it the morning is gone, and quiet time with it. I have to be intentional about stopping, taking time to rest and be still.

When I’m in the pool, I’m physically removed from garden work and I’m able to be still and quiet, take notice of what’s around me, and ponder the invisible behind it all.

Ideally, I have a good soak in the morning after working awhile. Being still in the water settles me, and my stillness invites the birds to descend. They flit back and forth from bird feeder to bird feeder. Some eat the spilled seed on the ground, and some sit in trees and watch. A squirrel drinks upside down from the lion fountain and I see an anole on the fence extending his beautiful red dewlap. The gently moving water creates a shimmering reflection on the plants around the pool.

Taking time to experience the wonders inherent in creation stirs up awe for the Creator. Over and over I’m blown away by the genius and creativity displayed in nature. These things are easy to overlook if I’m focusing on gardening chores, not paying attention.

Not everyone can have a pool to soak in—I’m so very grateful that I do. It’s added a new dimension to my life: an opportunity to enjoy God’s gift of water, another avenue to stillness, and a way to cope with intolerable heat. Now, I actually enjoy and look forward to Summer—but I must confess that if you see me, there’s most likely damp swimwear underneath my summer dress.

“Work in the invisible world at least as hard as you do in the visible.” Rumi