I had never seen so much ice in one place in my entire life, and the way the sunshine glistened off of the frosty white surface, refracting into a rainbow of vivid color was not only beautiful, but blinding! Famous for being the largest sub-polar ice body of all of North America, the water runoff of the Columbia Ice fields feeds three oceans: the Arctic, the Atlantic and the Pacific. The eight glaciers of the ice fields that could be admired from this basin form a solid field of ice that covers more than 325 square kilometers. It is both magnificent and unbelievable.

The ice fields were about a 3 hour drive from our camp in Banff, Alberta, and we arrived around noon. We were taken by bus to a monster called a Brewster Ice Explorer, the vehicle that would transport us onto the ice fields themselves. Weighing more than a ton (be careful for your toes!), with tires taller than I am, we were told that these ice exploring monsters cost more than what an average person like me can earn in a lifetime. Too bad!

The two kilometer drive in the Brewster was amazing. We could see out of the vehicle in all directions, and the driver kept us entertained by telling us the history of the ice fields and how they came to be. What especially caught my attention however, was the clear-blue water melting from the glaciers and flowing down, in numerous streams and tiny waterfalls, towards a small lake at the bottom of the ice fields.

Then the much anticipated moment arrived. The Brewster stopped on one of the glaciers, the doors opened, and we were invited to spend the next 15 minutes exploring the immediate surroundings by foot. Only one warning was given, and only to the women: “Don’t drink the water!” Why? “Because when women drink glacier water, they become 10 years younger!”

Quite naturally, there was a stampede of ladies heading off of the Brewster, while we men just looked at each other and rolled our eyes. We all believe in “ladies first” of course. But come on! They didn’t have to be so forceful about claiming their right!

When it was finally my turn to disembark from the “monster”, I wasn’t too astonished to find out that my wife had emptied her water bottle of the precious reverse osmosis water that we carefully searched out the day before, and was busily refilling it with this magical glacier water.

“You brought your water bottle with you?” I asked incredulously.

“Hey!” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “You never know what REALLY pure water can do to you! Imagine drinking water that fell to the earth 400 years ago!”

I looked around for the boys, only to find them avidly scooping up the water in their hands and having a drink as well.

“Guys, you aren’t women. The water may have the opposite effect on you!” I teased.

Their answer? “Cool!”

If you can’t beat them, you join them, and totally flabbergasted, I kneeled down next to the boys to touch the crystal clear water. It was refreshingly cold. Freezing, actually. But the more I felt it flow over my fingers, the more revitalizing it seemed. Suddenly I was dying of thirst. I HAD to taste that water! And I made my mistake. I tasted it. And I fell in love with its heavenly freshness! “Wow!” I exclaimed. “What’s in that water?”

We had been told on the Brewster that there were many kinds of minerals transported by these melting glacier waters, but I had no idea that it would taste so delicious! Imagine drinking water that was completely untouched by pollution and contaminants for at least 400 years! Unbelievable! If it wasn’t for the cold winters in these mounts, this might be a very attractive location to build a retirement home!

Then I looked up and faced the majesty of the Athabasca Glacier, six kilometers long and one kilometer wide. As I looked around, I noticed other interconnected glaciers, but I could only remember two of the names: Dome and Stutfield. Hum. It seemed the water hadn’t exactly improved my memory . . . But then, I’m not a woman . . .

It is with sadness that we were called back to the “monster”. I noticed my wife quickly chugalugging the remainder of the melting magical “youth potion” from her bottle, and then quickly refilling it before boarding.

“Are you planning on becoming a teenager again?” I asked innocently.

“No!” she denied. “It’s healthy, that’s all!” Then the twinkle returned to her eyes: “Has my gray hair started to disappear yet?”

But the sun was blinding my eyes, and as I squinted at her, all I could truthfully say was, “I don’t see any gray hair!”

“Maybe this works after all!”

Other women on the Brewster commented to her that she had been wise to bring a water bottle with her. They regretted that they hadn’t done the same. The men just rolled their eyes: “What is this world coming to?”

Becoming young again! I’ve heard so many people tell me that they would do anything to be eighteen again, and looking into their eyes, I see that they really long for their long lost youth.

Although no one can turn back the clock, we can regain the carefree joy of being 18. Excitement can once again become our norm and the worries of this world can vanish.

What am I talking about? A true fountain of youth? Yes!

If we want to experience this true “fountain of youth”, we must turn to the source of Living Water: Jesus Christ. We must develop a relationship with the One who died so that we can be free to enjoy life again. We must learn to live a life totally dependent upon Jesus. His resurrection guarantees us a power far above beyond anyone’s imagination.

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…” (Eph 1:18-20 NIV)

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10 NIV)

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36 NIV)

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Gal 5:1 NIV)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt 11:28-29 NIV)

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11 NIV)

Do you want to really be 18 again? You have two options. You are welcome to live at the Columbia Ice fields and try to drink as much of the deliciously crystal clear waters as you can. Of course, in the winter you will have a harder time, but if you are innovative, it might still be possible. I really doubt, however, that this would turn into a positive experience.

Your other option is to welcome Jesus into your life and begin developing the relationship He hungers to develop with you. Will you be His friend?

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:38 NIV)

P. S. Sorry folks. I can’t share any of that crystal-clear water with you. My wife has turned into a teenager and has forgotten where she put her wattle bottle!

Rob Chaffart