I Am Her

I think I've mentioned that I am currently reading another book by Max Lucado called Cast of Characters: Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon God. This morning I read about the Samaritan Woman at the well. Lucado put a different spin on this story that I had never really considered. Do you ever feel like you read something and although you know what it is saying, you really don't consider it? That is often me, not only in reading but also in conversations. Someone will tell me something and I'll take it at face value alone. I think I've gotten better with thinking about things a bit more and asking questions but this is still an area where I need some work.

To summarize what happens at the well for those that may not be familiar with the story: Jesus stops at a well. Before long a Samaritan woman goes to the well to draw water from it and Jesus asked her for a drink. Jesus was obviously a Jew and so the woman was surprised at the request because at that time Jews would not have anything to do with Samaritans...so for him to ask her for something was just unheard of. Essentially, in the (short) conversation about giving him water the woman is offered a different type of water, a "living water", from Jesus. One that if she drinks it, she will never be thirsty again.

This is where it gets good. When the woman asks Jesus to give her the water he was talking about he instructs her to go get her husband and bring him back. Well, this puts the woman in a bit of a quandary because she isn't married. She is living with a man, has been married five times, but is not married at that time. The response from the woman is an honest one; she doesn't have a husband. Now, put yourself in her shoes when she gets Jesus' response back to her; he confirms that she is right, she has no husband but she has had five and the one she is living with at the time was not her husband either. She must have been dumbfounded but reasons that this man must be a prophet and says as much to him.

So, with an opportunity to glean from this prophet she says that she is aware that the Messiah is coming and that He is called Christ but she doesn't know where he is. Perhaps she wanted the prophet to tell her of Christ's location? Then Jesus breaks the news to her by letting her know, "I am the Messiah!" The woman does what anyone would do, she dropped the bucket of water and ran to tell others in the village that He is there and claiming to be the Messiah.

It was in this story as Lucado told it that I began to get completely engrossed. Think about it.

• Here is this woman who has been married five times and is now divorced from each of those men. With each divorce she feels rejected and unloved. Used and alone. Shame and guilt.
• Everyone in the village knows about her failed marriages, of course, and so not only does she have to live with her own internal shame but she likely has to endure the shame of others through outward comments and ridicule. Perhaps she is considered the village whore or worse. (yes, I said it...)
• She is living with a man who likely is not willing to give her his name by marrying her. I would think that would lead to more shame.
• The weight of the buckets of water is great. In those times the buckets are usually carried on either end of a long stick that goes over the shoulders of the person gathering the water. Can you imagine the weight? The burden of carrying the water on your shoulders for any distance?

But then when the woman meets this man he is kind and gentle with her. He doesn't treat her badly because she is a woman, because she is a Samaritan, nor does he treat her with condemnation even knowing about her multiple failed relationships. He doesn't even turn his back on her knowing that she is living in sin by living with yet another man. No, this Jesus treats her with respect and even offers her something which is probably an event that is never experienced by her. However, this "water" that he offers her is something that will quench the thirst in her soul. You can't get any deeper than that. The well they were next to wasn't even that deep!

What is it that Jesus really wanted from this woman? From what I see, he wanted her. He wanted to give her what she had been looking for all along; Him. I would say that he also wanted her honesty. In those days I don't think that many women questioned a request from a man. But she did. She questioned why he would even speak to her since she was a Samaritan. She was honest in her response about not having a husband. And the bucket(s) of water? Perhaps we could think of those as her burdens. They were burdensome.

I realized after reading through this chapter on the Samaritan woman that I am her. In the past, my life has been filled with and sometimes continues to have heavy burdens (shame, guilt, rejection, loneliness and more) that I choose to carry on my shoulders. Like the Samaritan woman, I too can drop my buckets (burdens) at Jesus' feet. He wants me to be honest with Him in my questions of Him and honest in my answers to Him. He wants to give me what I've always wanted: Him. And it is not the water from the well that He wants, but it is me. He wants to give me the "living water" that will full fill the thirst that I have deep in my soul; that thirst is for Him. I am thankful for the opportunity and take Him up on His offer to drink the water He offers...and drink often.

That Samaritan woman? I am her...

Book Review: Cure for the Common Life

So I've finished the book Cure for the Common Life: Living in Your Sweet Spot by Max Lucado. I would rate it a 9 out of 10 but wouldn't recommend it for someone who isn't looking for a little personal growth.

The main idea of the book is that we all are put here on earth for a purpose and once we take the time to figure out what that purpose is and begin living in it, we will be living in our "sweet spot". What I liked most about this book is that it doesn't just talk about the subject, it also gives new ideas of how to see things and also walks you through the indicators of what your purpose is. There is even some "homework" in the back of the book that if you go through the step-by-step process, it will assist in making your sweet spot clear.

One of the things Lucado writes about is how we were designed for our unique purpose. Designed by God, of course. But that there are indicators of what life we are supposed to lead from very early on in our lives. Personally, I found a trend that since 5th grade I have enjoyed being in the front, leading and teaching. And I love to do those things in new and innovative ways. Helping to lead Sunday school as a little girl to kids that were younger than me, teaching leadership classes to my peers and eventually my Marines, speaking at a Christmas dinner in front of all the folks in our office including the executives and spouses to explain to them the history of Toys for Tots, teaching kindergarten aged girls lessons as Missionettes, leading the Girls Night Out events as the director of the women's ministries back in Cali. These are all examples that came to mind when I went through the writing process at the end of the book. In each of these scenarios I was living in my sweet spot...these times in my life thrilled me...I felt more "alive" than ever...I could never understand why others didn't like to do those things. And lastly, they were all successful situations.

So when you figure out where your gifts are...and when you have been successful at using those gifts...then you have to figure out how to use those gifts in a successful way that is for the purpose of lifting up Christ, honoring God. After all, the bottom line is that we are ALL here to for a purpose that only God has in mind. It is up to us to figure out the what, where, how and with who questions along with the question about how can I use this gift to be a cheerleader for God?

As a mom, this also makes me look at my kids. What gifts are they already showing signs of having? What is it that they do that seems to make them the happiest and where they are the most comfortable. Instead of me trying to make them be something that I want them to be, I need to be careful that I am allowing them to be who they are designed to be, which is really not likely to be anything like me! :-) Not too long ago I started honing in on this concept as I focused on the need to help Mario channel some of his social behavior. Here is a kid who has a huge heart, who is able to discern things about people without ever having a conversation with them, and who absolutely loves to have face-to-face interaction with folks. He has been that way since he was able to walk (and that started early - he was 9 months old when he started to walk!)

I remember when we started attending the church back in Cali how he knew so many people's names, even as a little guy, and EVERYONE seemed to know who he was. He would call people by their first names and go from person to person giving great big bear hugs around their legs because he was so small. Very early on one of the women in the church nicknamed him "Hallelujah" and still calls him that to this day. I think of the time at a pool when a very shady looking character who was outwardly rude and crabby whom I was concerned about the kids interacting with but by the time we were leaving Mario was sitting by him at the hot tub, having a great conversation and they were laughing together. He was maybe 7 years old then. In response to Mario's gifts and passion for personal relationships about two months ago I made arrangements for him to work with the greeters at church to help welcome people to our church and to get to know people, while at the same time learning (I hope) valuable lessons about the importance of serving in the church.

LaNece, on the other hand, is a bit more reserved but has ALWAYS seemed to be a magnet for kids. Babies and even older kids have always been drawn to her and she has consistently demonstrated her ability to positively influence and encourage them. She has two things that stick out for her; 1) the influence with children, and 2) she is unbelievably talented in the area of drawing, creativity and basically anything artsy. She has a desire to be a 2nd grade school teacher and has also dabbled with the idea of being an interior decorator. Believe me, she astonishes me every time she finds a new way to set her room up...and that is often. For now, she is in the normal rotation for working with the children at church. And like today, even when she isn't working back there, at the end of service she still goes back to say hello to her little friends. :-)

And so what about me? Am I currently living in my sweet spot? Well, I love what I do but I wouldn't call it my sweet spot. However, before going through this book I never realized that teaching / leading / being out in front was a sweet spot for me. I have to laugh about how God orchestrates things though. You see, this test that I've been talking about taking to get my certification...it is to be the Principal Trainer for a new system we are putting into the hospital. He is putting me in my sweet spot...now I have a little bit of a different perspective on this new job. I will do my best...but do it with a new zeal...and I will somehow use it to be a cheerleader for God. And I'll have a smile on my face when I do it because I will be living in my sweet spot.

The cure for the common life...my sweet spot. I recommend the book...but be ready for an eye opening outcome...

If you choose to read it, I'd love to hear your feedback! :-)