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 Let’s explore Jesus’ encounters with water, a recurring and significant symbol in the Bible. These interactions, like his conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, reveal key insights into his divine nature and his provision for us. This exploration goes beyond simply recounting biblical stories. We’ll examine how Jesus uses water to illustrate his offer of sustenance that goes beyond physical needs. From the ‘living water,’ he offers the Samaritan woman, to the wine created at the wedding feast, and even in how he works in our lives today, we’ll see how he provides spiritual satisfaction that is both deep and lasting. Join us as we delve into these powerful moments and discover how Jesus’ interactions with water can refresh and transform our own lives. Let’s explore how he offers ‘living water’ that deeply satisfies us. A collective reflection on God’s grace and our chances for renewal Monday, March 24, 2025 |
Come and see John 4:28-42 Do you ever overthink things? I sure do. I can make mountains out of tiny grains of sand if given the time to ruminate on every facet of a conversation or imagine every possible outcome of an action. All the while not having said conversation or taking the next action step. I love the simplicity of this woman’s invitation to the townspeople. We can glean that some of these people were probably judging her based on her backstory. Some were likely friends and family. But many followed her out to the well to meet this man who “told me everything I ever did!” In her earnest invitation, she didn’t belabor her history, didn’t qualify her statements, and didn’t shy away from the shared knowledge of “everything I ever did”. She simply wanted more people to encounter this man who was changing her life, right then, beside a well in a desert town. And she spoke to them as authentically, fully herself. In my time following Jesus, I have been this clear, excited, and willing to share. Open, authentic, earnest to let others know what connecting my life on a journey following Jesus was doing for me. And then life happened. Calendars filled up. Habits were formed and my faith became a rhythm that…plateaud. It’s not that I set out intending to settle in and live the same faith journey day in and day out, right? But settling kind of happens. As a lover of the outdoors, a hiker, and a runner, I firmly believe in the law of inertia: an object at rest stays at rest, while an object in motion will stay in motion (unless acted upon by an unbalanced force). Following Jesus and being earnest and ready to share what he is doing in my life can become a state of rest vs motion. A plateau in my journey. I settle in and overthink, sharing this doubt I’m wrestling with or this nudge I felt came from God as I prayed. My life following Jesus is deeply personal and happens in small, private moments to be sure. But he didn’t call me (or us) to follow him in secret. I don’t think he wants the things we learn, experience, and wrestle through to be in silence. And so I am practicing the art of authentic conversation and storytelling. Some of my nudges to get myself moving again are: Just say it; don’t evaluate it; if it’s true of you, it’s worth being heard. Here’s to stories that are simple, heartfelt, and in process. It is OK to be not OK, to be imperfect, and to share the journey of growing with others. “Come and see” is my new invitation, or my old invitation made new again. Prayer for today: Jesus, thank you for meeting us at wells and water cooler, on the edge of town and in the middle of our offices, schools, and homes. Thank you for the gift of living water that changes our lives each time we take a sip. May we be people who drink deep your living water and hang out at the well, or run into town ready to share what you are doing in excitement and candor. May our stories of doubt and hope, of struggle and overcoming be freely shared and worked out in community for the good of others. May many come to know you at the well. Amen. By Lisa Zulke |
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