my mind immediately runs to John 4 and Jesus' exchange with the Samaritan woman; this broken, beat-up outsider who's walking to the well in the heat of the day. their exchange is classic, Jesus exposing her misplaced worldview as the woman seeks to evade exposing her inner-most secrets. unfortunately, or in reality, fortunately for her...there is no 'hiding' from God. as Christ shares that he already knows...he already knows who she is, already knows everything she's ever done...he still offers hope. he still offers this well that won't run dry, he offers a fountain of new life. he still offers her the gift of His presence, of being Immanuel.
the beauty of it all...she leaves her water pot. there is something about encountering the divine, encountering the great I AM that leaves us changed, that leaves us different. we can't help leaving things behind, and why would we want to take them with us? why carry the shame? why carry the guilt? why carry the sadness? why carry the sin? leave it, leave it at the well and let Christ lead you to the fountain of new life. we also can't help taking something new with us. some of that thirst-quenching water. some of that peace giving life. sure, life still beats us up at times...its life, get used to it...but the good news is there is a fountain, a well, that we've been to, that we're forever invited to, which will satisfy...
as i walk our neighborhood every morning, smiling and encouraging the kids as they walk to school, offering a 'good morning' to whoever will receive it (even if i'm cranky sleepy nick)...i pray that somehow, someway, i can share the Well. i hope and pray that my life, that our lives, are signposts to that well, that others leave us different, because that well and fountain is flowing from within us...
and with that bit of rambling, i'll take my daylight savings time messed up self to bed...
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