Satisfied?

On Sunday, Pastor Tony was preaching on Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42) and about being Satisfied. As Americans, it's really hard to be satisfied with anything, because there's always a bigger and better out there. But, what really struck me during his sermon was about the service that was taking place. Since serving others is my calling and, interestingly enough right now, my job description (Leadership & Service Coordinator), I was interested in the ways Jesus was serving this woman. So, here's a few thoughts...

Jesus went to the need. Where do you find those who are thirsty? At a well, of course. So Jesus (offering living water which satisfies instead of temporary physical water), goes to a well to find someone who is thirsty. He met the woman where she was, and he met the need even she didn't know she had. I love the idea of serving others where they are. So many times in church we think we need to bring people to us (or worse that people will just come to us), but Jesus knew that wasn't how things work. He went to them, he took the Word (himself) to them, and met their needs.

In this story, there are three types of people.
1) The woman. She's needy, but doesn't know it. She's a Samaritan (outcast or lower class). She's a woman (even further outcast or lower class). And she's had 5 husbands and is in an adulterous relationship. So, by my count, this woman has five strikes against her. Are we the Samaritan woman who can't see our own need for a Savior because we're too busy with our lives?

2) The disciples. They were off looking for food when Jesus started talking to this woman. They were very worried about the details. They even said, "Rabbi, eat something". It sounds like care and concern for Jesus' well-being, but He responds, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." Are we too worried about the details of serving others when our focus should be on the living water?

3) Jesus. He was worried about the woman. He wasn't worried about eating or about his reputation. As a Jew, being seen with a Samaritan is bad enough, but a woman, who is an adulterer is a reputation that Jesus couldn't ever shake. And he didn't...even today he still has that reputation. We talk about Jesus hanging out with sinners, and she appears to be one of the first. So, his reputation was built on this encounter and many more like it. Are we too worried about associating with people that 'Christians shouldn't associate with'? But, on the other hand, isn't having a reputation of being like Jesus what we strive for?

One part of this story that I love is that Jesus attends to the spiritual through the physical. He started a conversation about water (physical) and used that to lead into the vital conversation about living water (spiritual). Because he saw the need, which created opportunity, the woman believed. Not only did she believe, but her town believed because of her testimony about Jesus. In the end, I think I'd like to be the mix of all three people in this story. Jesus whose heart saw the need and attended to it. The disciples whose hands showed care and concern. And the woman, whose voice told the testimony of her Lord and brought many to the feet of Jesus.

Snow Day!

One thing I love about teaching is the fact that when it snows a lot, I don't have to worry about calling in to work...they call me and tell me to stay home! I am convinced that teachers enjoy a snow day more than the students. They always seem to happen right when I need one most. For example, yesterday I had a really rough day. My computer got a virus and crashed, I had to completely redo a major project and had to stay after school later than I was expecting. I came home exhausted and just plain spent. And today, it's like God is giving me a much needed break right when I truly could use one.

So, as everyone else carefully drives 10 mph on the interstate, I want to say thank you for taking one for the team. A snow day is God's gift to teachers for the burdens we often carry quietly. Interestingly, I plan to spend my snow day working on lesson plans...in my pajamas! A teacher's job is never done.

New Year's Goals

It’s January 11th and I haven’t yet made New Year’s Goals. I usually try to make 3 goals for the year. Last year it was to pay off our credit cards by New Year’s (I even gave it a catchy title, “No Credit Card Debt by New Year’s”, I know, not so great for an English teacher.) The second goal was to actually eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. The third goal was to work out on a consistent basis, meaning at least 3 days a week.

On this short 2010 to-do list, I could only call one a success. When I paid the last payment to our credit card company I was nearly bouncing off the walls I was so excited! That was my one hugely successful New Year’s Goal. The other two were not so successful. They started out like everyone’s New Year’s Resolutions, great for a while and then we go back to life as it was. Now, I like fruit smoothies and don’t mind putting spinach in everything, but it’s amazing how quickly we returned to ‘easy meals’ and less fruits and veggies in our diets. Why is it so hard to change our habits? I mean, we created these habits somehow. I’ve always heard that it takes doing something 21 times to make it a habit, but I definitely ate my servings of fruits and veggies more than 21 times, and still reverted to old habits, let’s not even get into the times spent working out that would eventually get squeezed out by ‘relaxing’.

All of this being said, I will still make new goals for the year, hopefully I’ll do better than one out of three.  So, my first 2011 Goal is to make some New Year’s Goals!

My Life's To-Do List

One of my favorite things to do on a Saturday morning is to get a cup of coffee and my laptop and catch up on all of the blogs I follow. It's the first item on my weekend To-Do List. I love to read about other people’s thoughts and I find myself getting caught up in the way they react to their lives. I find it fascinating to hear how other people approach and process their daily activities. It has become somewhat of a mild addiction for me. It started with just one. I had heard about this woman who moved to a homestead and was trying to live a simpler life. For almost two years I have read about her adventures with the land, livestock and her children. I was hooked. Since that first blog, I have added the blogs of friends and friends-of-friends to where I read about 10 blogs consistently. It is my weekly escape and it helps me look at the events of my life in a different way. It’s amazing how well you can get to know someone else just through a blog.

So, all of that being said, I thought I’d start to write my own. I’m a little hesitant to even begin this project because it could become another entry on my to-do list, but I’d also like to have it as a record of memories. And thus, I begin a new journey…