“JaCK and Jill went up the hill to fetch A pail of water……………….”

Genesis 24:13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, 

and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. ESV

Water…  The sustainer of life.  It is said the water comprises as much as 50-65% of the human body.  It is also said the common denominator for much of human conflict in the biblical record as well as modern times centers around the abundance or scarcity of water in specific locations around the world.  No…  it is not “oil,” although that substance generates its own significant international angst!

The Bible records a multitude of major events centered around the source of water…wells.  They were the place you went, either early in the morning or later after the sun went down to get your daily water needs. While the customs, at the time, dictated that women were the major well visitors, it was not limited to them alone.  Battles were fought over well ownership, with wells being dug, filled in and dug again, based upon who won or lost. (Gen 26:20-32) Understandably, cities were built around the water supply of wells. Several major Old Testament patriarchs were the beneficiaries of divinely ordained meetings at the well.  Abraham’s servant was sent to a well on a “God blessed” venture to choose a woman (Rebekah,) who offered to draw water for the servant’s camels, as an eventual wife for his son, Isaac. (Gen 23-24.)  Similar story is recorded for Rachel and Jacob (Gen. 29:8f.)  Moses saved the women of Midian at a well from roving shepherds and one of the women, Zipporah, was given to him as a wife by her father, Laban. (Gen 2: 14-22)

 

Christ met a woman at a well, too.  A little bit of a different story, but more dramatically life-changing!  He was sitting by a well and asked a woman from Samaria to draw a drink for him. Little did she know how much he knew about her!  After life-changing dialogue about her somewhat questionable past, Jesus had given her “living water.” (Jn. 4:7-26)

Because of their social context, wells became the local “hang-out.”  A place where refreshment went beyond keeping the body’s water percentage up. The local “meet and greet.”  Our culture has developed a form of that “meet and greet.”  It’s called the local Starbucks!  In the case of my new hometown, it’s appropriately called “The Well.”  Yep, you heard correctly – “The Well.”  It is actually a non-profit, started by two retired physicians that uses all proceeds to build life-sustaining wells in Africa.  How appropriately named!

For those of you who know me, it is not surprising that The Well has become the “Lew Gibbs variety of networking” place to be.  Make no mistake, this isn’t about names recorded or business cards collected.  It is about random relationships built over a “cop-o-joe.”  Mind you, unlike some of those old testament examples, I’m not looking for a wife!  Already have one!  But the Lord has given me the gift of engagement (not sure that gift is so-named in Romans) that has already allowed me to share life experiences to the benefit of several “chance meetings” over coffee. Yeah, I know there are NO chance meetings, NO coincidences!

This is about “having your life read as a living gospel before men.”  It’s about sharing some wisdom, and some practical life experiences as a bridge to sharing Gospel truths. It’s about purposeful interaction.

Where is your hangout – what do you bring – what do people see – where’s your watering hole….??

Jacob’s servant, Moses, Christ, Lew………………   All hangin’ out at The Well!  WooHoo!!