From the Rector . . .
Jesus said to her, "... The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty…” ~ the gospel according to John, chapter 4.The theme for this Lent has been the sacrament of baptism. As we continue our Lenten journey and prepare for our annual Easter celebrations, the story of the Samaritan woman, and her encounter with Jesus at Jacob’s well, takes on an ever more deepening poignancy. The gospel story is enhanced by another story from John Sanford’s book: The Kingdom Within, first published in 1978.
John introduces the theme of “The Kingdom Within” by telling about a home in New Hampshire that his family came into possession of when he was a small child. The home was 150 years old when it came to them, and had no indoor plumbing or electricity. Their light and cooking was all kerosene generated and their water came from an old well just outside the door of the house. The water produced by this old well was cool, clear and delicious; and the old well never seemed to run dry. Even in drought years, when neighbors would be forced to draw water from the nearby lake, their old well continuously provided plenty of fresh, pure, good tasting water.
For years the family lived in this home, as it was, until finally they were able to afford an upgrade. Electricity and indoor plumbing were installed in the home, and a new artesian well was drilled about 200 feet from the house. The old well was covered over to be held in reserve should some unforeseen emergency befall them.
Many years later, upon spending some time at the house again, John felt compelled, both through nostalgia and curiosity, to uncover the old well, and “check it out”. He expected to find the cool, refreshing water, as it had always been; awaiting his discovery. He was, therefore, shocked when he found the well completely dry. Upon inquiring throughout the small community, he discovered that the old well was of a certain type, that is fed by hundreds of tiny rivulets. When in operation, and having water hauled out of it every day, the well would produce generous amounts of good water… continually being refreshed through the many small apertures. When water ceased to be drawn out, the small apertures atrophied and closed off from lack of use… and so the old well eventually dried up for want of any water to be replaced.
John goes on to compare this old well with our souls, and with the spiritual community (the Church)… identifying similar traits between them. The main similarity is found in what occurs when they not used. When water ceases to be drawn forth, the well runs dry; not from lack of water, but from lack of attention and use. Each bucketful of water drawn out makes room for more water to be pulled in from the hundreds of small rivulets. In comparison, each time we attend to the health and well being of our souls and our spiritual communities, we create space for internal growth and maturation.
And so, we are reminded of the great wealth of understanding and compassion presented to the Samaritan woman when Jesus began his conversation with her by asking for a drink of water.
Some good questions for reflection are raised in these stories:
As we approach Palm Sunday (March 16) and Holy Week, remember to draw plenty of water from God’s old sweet well!