Whenever I go to the well for water, I think about the day I met Jesus there. It started out so ordinarily, but that day changed my life.
    Uriah was cross with me because his tank had run dry. He uses water as if we had a spring in the floor of our house. I know his work uses a lot, but sometimes I think he wastes it just so I'll have to go out to fetch more. I even suspect he wants me out of the way when men are hanging around his metal shop.
    I got my jar and dipper and left, feeling cross, too, because now I would fall behind with my own work. Besides it was a hot day.
    While I walked, I indulged in my favorite device for making myself feel cool - imagining myself in a cool or chilly place. This time I fantasized a bubbling spring under a huge shade tree. I kneel on the grass and bend over the pool, cup my two hands and splash water on my face. Then I take a long, slurppy drink. Last, I take more water and dump it on my head. It runs through my hair, drips off my nose and chin, runs down onto my shoulders, and soaks my dress.
    It is a good system for temporary relief, but this day it only made me aware that I was thirsty.
    As I neared the well, I saw a man sitting on the bench there. I could tell he was a Jew.
    "Oh, no!" I thought. "What rudeness will I have to put up with now?"
    But he wasn't rude. As I dropped the pail and lowered the rope, he asked in a polite voice, "When you've drawn water, may I have a drink?"
    I was astonished. He's speaking to me, a woman? Asking a favor?
    "You are a Jew and I'm a Samaritan, so how can you ask me for a drink?"
    He smiled and nodded, as though he were pleased with my response.
    "If you knew what God can give, and if you knew who I am, I think you would ask me, and I would give you living water."
    It made me wonder if he had read my thoughts and knew about my silly fantasy as he watched me approach.
    "Sir, the only thing better than this well would be a spring bubbling up in my house, and that would take a miracle. You aren't greater than our ancestor Jacob, are you?"
    He laughed, then became serious again.
    "When you drink this water, you know that after a while you will be thirsty again. But anyone who drinks the water I will give will never be thirsty again. My gift will become a spring within you, welling up into eternal life."
    Now I caught on that he was speaking in metaphors, which made it even more astounding. I finished pulling the bucket up, washed my dipper, and filled it.
    "Have a drink of Jacob's water anyway. It's pretty good. And tell me about this water you can give, so that I can stop being thirsty. I'm interested in eternal life."
    "Why don't you go get your husband, bring him here, and we'll talk."
    That was a wise idea. Our reputations, if someone saw us two alone here, could be smirched. But I didn't want to deal with Uriah. Besides . . . well, I might as well be truthful.
    "I haven't got a husband."
    "You're an honest woman. You have had five, but the man you live with now is not your husband. I like your openness."
    It gave me an uncanny feeling, as though he had pulled off my disguise. I felt recognized. While I poured the water into my jar, I was wondering, Who is this person? He knows me. He is willing to talk to me. He sees the real me. Not just a body that can draw water for him, but a person to exchange ideas with. He knew about Uriah, but he didn't lecture me about it.
    We sat and discussed spiritual things, and Jesus didn't dismiss me as a stupid woman. He answered my questions seriously, explained to me about God being Spirit, and the power of that Spirit to live and work and act within each person.
    The gist of it was that true religion is spiritual. It is a relationship with God, not just adhering to forms and doctrines. It's not places, this mountain or that mountain. Finally he told me he was the Messiah that the Jews were looking for, but not what they expected. There is a new kingdom, A Kingdom of God, and only by the power of the Spirit can a person enter.
    Well, you've read the story in John's book. John left out a lot because he was in the village buying lunch. When he and the others came and saw us sitting there talking theology, they were too shocked to say much.
    I hurried back into town and told my friends, "There is a man out at our well who is willing to talk to us women. He has the answers to our questions. Go and see him."
    They got their water jars and hurried off. It was still early for fetching water, but they were curious. I went home and told Uriah and the other men hanging around his smithy.
   
    "He's the Messiah. He has the words of life."
    Of course they didn't believe me, but some of them were curious and went.
   
    We all had similar experiences. Jesus' disciples saw us with disgust: females, Samaritans, the wrong religion. But Jesus' whole demeanor seemed to say, "I know you folks, and what's more, you are known in Heaven." Uriah ended up feeling recognized, just as I did.
    We invited him to stay in Sychar, and he accepted. The disciples must have learned something, because they entered into the spirit of it, and were polite to all of us. They stayed for two days, and Jesus healed some of our sick folk, and told people, "You have been forgiven. You are loved in Heaven?"
    Jesus was right. He gave us the water of life.

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