amidst the chaos – Posted on November 9, 2022 by Brendon
” A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her ” Give me a drink.” – John 4:7
Could you just imagine this scene with me for a minute…a woman…in Jesus time being spoken to by a rabbi. Not likely. Jesus asking for a drink by this woman….more not likely. Then the woman in conversation with Jesus, a rabbi, not likely. But yet this is exactly where Jesus wanted to be. This was exactly the person that Jesus wanted to see and talk with. I have a feeling the woman had no thought of someone being at this well when she went. Historically, groups of women would go to the well to draw water together, but not this samaritan woman. She was by herself with no one to accompany her. She was by herself and minding her daily business by getting water.
Yesterday was voting day. It was a crazy scene at Harvester Christian Church. The church serves as a polling site for two precincts. One in our north lobby and one in our south. People were everywhere! People were also confused at which site they were supposed to be. No one was upset or angry, but just confused at where they should be. It reminded me of this moment with Jesus when this woman came near to draw water. As the people yesterday came wondering into the building looking for the civic duty they were about to perform, some of them came into the place that Jesus wanted them to walk in to.
I had the privilege of meeting one of these people yesterday. I have been charged with overseeing the candles for Christmas eve services. Doesn’t sound like much, but when you have a story that will never leave you, it is a big deal. The story is for another time, but as I power walked through the worship center to check on the battery powered candles…..I noticed a woman glancing around the lobby and the building. I could tell that this lady was looking for something, so in my grandest knowledge, I spoke up…..” can i help you?”
” Maybe, are you a member here?”
I was taken back. Not, I don’t know where to go or which precinct is this or where is the bathroom……are you a member here. There was something special about that question. She wasn’t looking for a staff member. She didn’t ask for a pastor. She didn’t ask for anything other than a member.
It struck me in a way that I wasn’t expecting. But then as I thought about it more, it made sense. The woman at the well didn’t ask who Jesus was when he addressed her. She actually never asked him his name. She spoke to him as if he was just asking for a drink. Until she realized he was a rabbi, then she talked to him a little different. What struck me about this lady that asked for a member was, she just wanted to talk to someone that goes to church in that church.
She had a lot to say. I listened to her concerns and how she had moved to the area 8 years ago to take care of her parents that have both unfortunately passed away. But now she was looking for a church to be a part of but she wanted to make sure that she was a part of a church that she could fit in to. That was one that she felt that she could ask questions and be heard and be able to grow in her relationship and understanding of Jesus.
The thing about asking a staff member something, or maybe it is a manager at a restaurant or a lead salesmen at a car dealer…..is more often than not, we have a canned answer. We live in a world where scripts and robots answer our phone calls and attempt to answer our questions. More often than not, we end those conversations being frustrated and our questions still not answered. So what did this lady do…she wanted to get the opinion and the answer to her questions from someone that goes to church.
I was humbled to talk with this woman for about 10 minutes or so as we talked about everything from how the worship service is created to how the old testament is just as important to understand as the new testament. We talked about the length of the service and what she could expect when she came in to encounter Jesus. All questions that anyone that goes to church could answer.
However, when the conversation was over, it struck me just how important and impactful being a member of a church is.
In the midst of the business that surrounded the moment and the day, a woman was looking for a place to encounter Jesus. She just wanted to talk to a member.
What if that was you?
What if you were approached by someone in the midst of your busyness and chaos of the day, would you have stopped?
The amount of chaos and hurry in our lives is sometimes just completely overwhelming. I feel it, almost on a daily basis. We wake up in the morning hurrying to make breakfasts and lunches for the kids to get to school. We have to get ourselves ready at the same time to take the kids to school or to go to work. And we go and go and go all day long until we get home to get the kids from school. Then the fun starts, balancing play time with school work and dinner prep and showers and picking up the house. Then bedtime is always, one more kiss, one more cuddle, one more song, 5 more minutes of reading, bedtime takes too long and you hurry through it to be able to just sit and do nothing. You finally get a chance to sit, then you look at the kitchen with all the dishes and the toys that are still out on the floor that you don’t want to step on in the middle of the night. So by the time you actually get to sit, its time for bed.
Go to sleep. Wake up. Do it all over again.
As much as I know Jesus was where he was on purpose. Jesus demonstrated something in this encounter with this samaritan woman that we need to be aware of……
When we have the chance to talk with someone on how they can encounter Jesus, it is better to stop and be in the moment rather than think about all the things you need to get done.
Being a member or an attendee is more than just going to church and leaving church.
Being a member or an attendee gives you the ability to help others encounter Jesus, wherever you are.
Don’t miss that opportunity because of the busyness and chaos that might be surrounding you.