Uncontainable

I can relate to the heart and mind of the woman at the well whom we meet in this John 4.

Sometimes in the early morning I envision myself sitting face to face with Jesus, chatting about my ideas for the day. At first, His counsel stirs things up. What I held as critical to the purpose of my day recedes. Sometimes the possibilities I had ignored are brought forward to a place of prominence. Conversations or actions I hoped to avoid (I’m sure you know the type) are eventually identified as the “first” thing to which I must attend.

It takes discipline and trust to allow Him to stir up the fluid of my feelings and thoughts. The Holy Spirit exposes everything about me! I find that in Christ’s presence my understanding of what is radically important is clarified. I also find that the assurance of His companionship as I follow His instruction provides a strength that is both gentle and solid.

I am thinking now about that jar.  She brought the empty jar with a specific purpose in mind -- to gather water.  Her expectation that she would return from her chore with a full jar of water was not met.  In fact, she completely forgot about the need to gather water from the well in her container.  She left the container behind.  Yet her words flowed with an energy that transmitted the message of "living water" spilling forth from her encounter with Christ.  

Hmm...  I often start my day with some expectations of what I might do, or what I am willing to do.  My expectations and my will function to shape how my energy will flow throughout the day.   For any number of reasons I may carry an attitude from my first waking moment that is rigid or narrow.   

Carrying that attitude may actually inhibit the flow of God’s love from my heart to others.  After all, as God lavishes love upon me, I am then called to let that love spill outward upon others! It is to be uncontainable!   

I have something to learn from the Samaritan woman. She was so enlivened by the water of His presence that she forgot to take her jar (the container of her “pre-Jesus” priorities and expectations).

I have met Jesus this morning at the well of scripture and meditation.  Now I pray that I can leave the jar of my self determined expectations behind and step out upon my day.