Woman at the Well

Jesus, I am coming to the well.
I didn’t invite you to my home because
I’d be busy like Martha tidying up
thinking everything had to be just so
and I just want to be Mary,
taking in the fullness of your presence.

Unlike the Samaritan woman
I already know you are there
at the well waiting for me
hoping today will be the day
I come.

I’m glad you already know
everything about my life
because I’m feeling like the woman
looking for the lost coin
that is my life.

The I of my life feels
like it’s been drowning, lost
in the ravaging flood waters
hurricane, tornado,
tsunami, if you will
of_____________.

Like the sky this morning
my mind is full of clouds.
The first responder in me
is tired, soul-weary from
being in the eye of the storm,
the trauma center
day in and day out
performing triage.

I’m coming to the well
with eager longing,
deep, yearning intensity,
so absolutely thirsty
to be filled with
your living water
to reach the depths again
of who I am.

I don’t even want to recount
what has happened
in my life this year.
I just want to be with the One
who already knows.
who knows me through and through
better than I know myself.

And I know you ARE the well.
YOU are the Divine Well
of compassion, extravagant love
and understanding
that I desperately need.

You are the healing water
overflowing, unlimited
to shore up my weakness.
You are the calm I need
in the storms of my life.
You are the patience
the courage to risk
the faithfulness
the wholeness
the gracious presence
to others
I so deeply desire.

Heal me; heal ________.
Give us the grace to
be your healing presence
healing the hatred, racism,
hurt and grief, injustice,
violence in this world.

Give us the grace to
heal your beloved planet, Earth,
to restore the beauty
of your creation.
May it be so.