I'm the Woman at the Well...

Well not "literally", but in some aspects there are some similarities. Today is like no other day around here...handling the days responsibilities, doing business, ministry, etc., then out of the blue...God shows up... Wow! It's good to know in reality, that God does know my name. That sounds like a silly statement, but recently I've been thinking and living a little like He's not sitting there talking with me. Certainly not like Jesus does not exist at all...just "unaware" of the significance of each moment and breath. Maybe taking life for granted, or assuming that...my life...has lost the interest or attention of God himself. It's scary how easy is is for us as creation to slip into "spiritual obscurity"...like our very life has no meaning.


My guess is that's how the woman at the well felt. Life was just passing her by, maybe didn't turn out exactly like she had planned...and now her daily routine was interrupted with a significant conversation that challenged all she had ever heard about the Messiah.

What am I really thinking here? God loves me. He cares about my day and thoughts and actions. He cares for me...me. And certainly you too. If it's been awhile since God suddenly showed up at your well...go ahead and talk to Him now like He's actually there. Because the truth is...He hears every word.

New territory.

The house is different this September. First, the signs of stress from the summer are all around, not just the hottest & driest summers of memory and that the lawn and landscaping are thirsting for water and some cooler temps, but two children have left the house for college! Second, its the adjustment to our new reality of parenting a new generation junior higher, new school year, new ministry responsibilities and STILL sensing the winds of change blowing across my heart and mind. Typically...September is a new beginning...clean the office and dive into fall. But somehow this one is very different...more introspective, compemplative and unsatisfyingly curious and hungry for a new reality. In some cases I have been here before. 13 miles into a full marathon, knowing that the last half will determine the success of the ending. Knowing that the second half...is where it counts. I've cruised thru the first half of a 26 mile marathon before...only to discover the second half requires a different skill set for victory. It's strategically different. I think...that's where I am at in life, approaching the second half...at 45.

I HUNGER to walk/run in this new territory confidently with great faith knowing and as the songwriter put it..."everythings gonna be allright!" Interestingly...this week in actuality, will physically bring me to new territory in the Grand Canyon. A 46 mile journey covering an 11,000 foot elevation change from one rim to the other and back. I've never been at this point in life before, and I've never ran the Grand Canyon before. This guy from New Jersey is experiencing New Territory indeed.