Living a disrupted life

 

Living a disrupted life

Everything has changed. Our lives have certainly been disrupted. And if you really think about it, nothing over time is new. When I think about the many changes and challenges from the beginning of time, I am led to several of the stories in the New Testament where peoples' lives were disrupted by many things, especially as Jesus appeared on the scene.. When Christ showed up, it was a definite disruption to the life and culture of the day. He created a stir and things changed. People tried to figure out who this man was. Many recognized that he was "The Way", but there was so much to learn and sort through. There was mystery and misunderstanding. Did he come to break the rules or give new ones? Jesus crashed into the lives of people who were outcasts, hopeless, and in desperate need. He fought the establishment and made a way for those who needed love, compassion, and grace. Stepping in when the culture was ready to convict those same people, Jesus asked simple questions that brought a change of heart. He was the example of love in the highest form as he taught his disciples how to serve others selflessly.  One such "crash" is found In John 4. We see Jesus interact with a Samaritan woman at a water well. The Jews and Samaritans were enemies at this time and it was unthinkable to cross the boundaries of hatred that existed between these two cultures. Yet, Jesus crossed those lines when he interacted with a the Samaritan woman as she fetched water for the day. She knew he was out of line for several reasons. One, because they were enemies, and secondly because men did not typically speak to women. That's just the way it was in that culture. Jesus however, did not pay attention to the rules. He especially cared for women and there are many illustrations of how he honored them throughout the New Testament. This woman engaged in a conversation and through the end of it, she realized that the water she was retrieving from the well was temporary. Jesus explained that he was offering "living water", which would give her eternal life. He disrupted her life in that moment. So much, that she left her water jar behind and ran to tell the townspeople who she met. The Messiah.  There is so much more to this story and I've created a devotional booklet for you to read and enjoy. It can be found and downloaded in the link below. I'd love to hear back from you once you read it. The series, "The Chosen" creatively depicts the scene at the well. Here's the link to view it. https://vimeo.com/419537777 Click here: A Walk to the Well downloadable pdf booklet  The photo above is a water spring, found in Italy, in the small town of Bucita. This is my mother's birthplace and where she grew up as a child. She made countless trips to this "well" to collect water for her family. The water never stops flowing. It reminds me of the "living water" Jesus offers us. It's a simple illustration of the love of Christ that never stops flowing.