Are You Mentally or Spiritually Dehydrated? The Summit is Your Fire Hose

One comment we often hear after The Global Leadership Summit is, “The Summit is like drinking from a fire hose!” For this first time attendee in Wisconsin in 2016, it was no different. Through The Summit, God reminded her that it is just as important to fill her spiritual bucket as it is to stay physically hydrated.

After The GLS last year, I went for a run in hopes that a few key takeaways would rise to the top that I could ponder on while I ran. What came to mind was a strong realization of just how thirsty my soul has been for good, biblical, truth-telling teaching.

I’m thirsty.

It’s no coincidence that this came to me while running. You see, I live most of my life dehydrated. I know that proper hydration is important for so many reasons. Yet, even as a runner, I don’t drink enough water. Most days, I’m fine. I maybe get a foot cramp in the evening, or in rare circumstances, I might get a headache. Otherwise, I think I am just fine.

But here’s what’s interesting. When I finally do start drinking water, I can’t stop. I want more and more and more. I think the same is true here.

In my 20s and early 30s, my spiritual life was well-hydrated. Besides attending church on Sunday, I was having quiet times every morning. I was in a small group. I went to midweek services at church, and I had a mentor. When I wasn’t at work, I was surrounded by wise, grounded Christians who spoke truth into my life.

But as life became fuller with marriage, kids, more kids, more demanding jobs, a new community, new and even more demanding jobs, many of the things that used to fill me up fell to the wayside. What once provided the hydration my soul needed, was gone.

Like the lack of hydration in my body, the lack of hydration of my spirit is similar.

Most of the time I don’t notice it. Like a cramp in my foot, there may be little things that creep into my life—I become crabby, I use foul language, or I vent just a little too much. I tell myself it’s not so bad.

Going to church and being in a small group has provided enough water to keep me going. But as it turns out, it’s not enough to keep me hydrated.

While at the Summit, I kept saying “it’s like I’m drinking from the fire hose.”

Wow! Little did I know that two days later, God would bring this metaphor to life during my run. I was, in fact, drinking from the fire hose. And the more I drank, the more I wanted.

I came home intending to revisit my notes in an effort to identify key next steps and workplace application. Instead, all I wanted to do was pick up one of the three books I purchased. I kept asking myself why I was seeking more when I hadn’t reviewed what I already have. The reason?

Thirst. I’m craving more truth. More wisdom. I want to be challenged, changed, renewed and refreshed. I’m done with being stagnant and parched. God wants so much more for me.

So what’s next? How do I continue to feed my soul?

First, I need to start with repentance. Repentance for foolishly thinking all of these other things (good things!) would do for my heart what only God can do. Repentance for being so full of pride that I literally thought I could get away with not having consistent time with God, and still somehow stay hydrated.

My heart is soft and vulnerable right now. More than a line item on my list of resolutions, I pray that this is what I need to get back on track and realize that I need to drink from the fountain of life every day, multiple times a day to live the life God has called me to.