D. R. Callen moved from Colorado to the Dungeness Valley in Washington State. In Colorado, he had worked on farms where water was diverted from mountain rivers into irrigation ditches. He had actually seen the irrigation water flowing uphill because it was pushed forward by the current of the mountain streams.
D. R. Callen figured the same type of irrigation ditch would work in the Dungeness Valley. The Dungeness Valley sits in the “rain shadow” of the Olympic Mountains. Rainfall was plentiful elsewhere on the Olympic Peninsula, but very scarce in the Dungeness Valley where only 14 inches fell on average per year. The low rainfall made the valley nearly a desert in the summer.
The Dungeness River flows down from the nearby mountains and through the Dungeness Valley. D. R. Callen had the idea to dig irrigation ditches from the river to the farms in the valley. In order for the ditches to work, water would have to flow uphill as it left the streambed.
When he shared his plan with farmers from the valley, some mocked him and nicknamed him Crazy Callen. They didn’t believe water could be made to flow uphill. However, about twenty of the farmers agreed to help him dig the ditches. All winter long they toiled with shovels and picks digging a ditch about two miles long, four feet wide, and two or three feet deep. After the ditch was dug, they packed a thin layer of clay into the sides of the ditch in order to keep the water from soaking into the ground.
At last, their back-breaking work was finished and they were ready to connect the ditch to the river. A big celebration was planned for the day. Tables laden with food were set out, games were planned, including a May Pole, and folks were invited from nearby communities to come and see the water flow into the irrigation ditch.
D. R. Callen and some other farmers waded out into the water to lift the sluice gate that blocked the water from flowing into the flume, a chute-like structure. The edge of the flume sat on the gravel bed of the stream where the current was strongest. They pulled the planks of the sluice gate up and set them aside. The water was free to flow into the flume leading to the ditch. But to the dismay of Callen and his helpers, the river didn’t flow up into the flume like he thought it would. For a few minutes it seemed like Crazy Callen’s irrigation ditch was a failure.
Then one of the farmers got an idea. He loaded a wagon with clay, drove it to the base of the flume and shoveled it in. He then called for volunteers among the boys and girls who had come to enjoy the festivities to stomp the clay down with their bare feet. They had fun splashing in the river and smashing the clay into the gravel. No sooner was the clay stomped down than a great deal of water began flowing uphill through the flume and into the ditch. The water ran rapidly though the ditch towards the farmers’ fields. The crowd cheered. The farmers, happy with their success, slapped each other on the back, and the community had a big celebration, all because of Crazy Callen’s idea.
Every farmer knows that water is wealth. Because of the new supply of water, the farmers would be able raise more crops and livestock. In celebration of this special event, folks in the Dungeness Valley have held an “Irrigation Festival” every May 1 for the past 120 years.
The Dungeness Valley was dry and arid before the irrigation ditch delivered the much-needed water. In a similar manner, most men and women are dry and arid because they are leaving God out of their lives. Living apart from God, people tend to shrivel up like a farmer’s field that is experiencing a relentless drought. The Christian truths of the trinity and the incarnation, where God became a man and walked this earth, seem pretty far-fetched to them. But the truth is that faith in Christ works perfectly well and has transformed countless lives. It works because it is God’s wonderful, life-giving truth.
When the Lord Jesus, who is both God and man in the same person, died on the cross, the sluice gate of heaven was opened so that God’s richest spiritual blessings could flow out to repentant sinners. Sinners who deserve death and hell may now receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life through faith in Christ. God’s amazing love to sinners was made known to men.
Believing in Jesus Christ, they are enabled to drink of “living water” that comes from God. The Lord Jesus said of this living water, “Whosoever drink[s] of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:1414But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)). Only by drinking of the living water can any of us ever quench the deep spiritual thirst that we have. Our hearts were made to live by faith in God.
Farmers in the Dungeness Valley had a lot to celebrate when water flowed through the irrigation ditch. Those who believe in Christ have a lot to celebrate too. The celebrating they do begins on earth when they first believe and receive the forgiveness of sins, and then it continues nonstop all the way into eternity. What joy it is for souls to live in the presence of Him who loved them and gave His life for them to make them His own forever! Truly, as it says in the Book of Acts, “Though [God] be not far from every one of us” (Acts 17:2727That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: (Acts 17:27)).
In sad contrast, those who reject Christ will spend eternity longing for even a touch of water to moisten their lips. The Lord Jesus told the story of a rich man who dressed elegantly and ate sumptuously every day while he lived on earth but, being without God in his life, he was sent to hell when he died. In hell he cried out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame” (Luke 16:2424And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. (Luke 16:24)). Those who have never quenched their spiritual thirst through the Lord Jesus in this life will find not the slightest relief for their raging thirst in the life to come.
Despite the naysayers, Crazy Callen’s irrigation ditch worked and transformed the Dungeness Valley. Don’t let the naysayers about the Lord Jesus Christ dissuade you from placing your faith in Him and drinking from the living water He offers.
“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water” (John 4:1010Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (John 4:10)). You may come by faith to Christ today and receive the same gift of “living water” that He once offered to the lady by the well in Samaria. Revelation 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17) reads, “Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
It may seem crazy to believe on a Saviour who was crucified, but only faith in Christ has the power to transform people and prepare them for heaven! Won’t you believe in Christ and drink deeply of the water of life so that you may have eternal life? If you do, you will have a never-ending cause for celebration.
God doesn’t just promise refreshment; He also promises judgment. Find out why and for whom in Tornado Alley.