Formed

 

John 4:5-6

Jesus came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.

By the time Jesus got to the well

in the heat of the midday sun

many women had already drawn

from the depths 

Assembling in the cool morning air

Attending to the chores of the day

Gathering in community

sharing their news

and their lives

their wisdom

and their angst

Gathering around a source

that through every season

sustained life and work

encouraged the sharing of confidences 

witnessed to life in community

Those ancient stones

that protected the source

had stories to tell 

Stories of love and laughter

of trauma and tragedy

of flourishing and dying 

Little escaped 

that fount of formation

Around that well

love was kindled

possibility was imagined 

hope lived and died

and new stories 

were shaped and formed

Generations drank deeply

passing on tradition and culture

establishing customs and norms

creating kinship

And, in that place 

of community engagement

the Son of God experienced

a transformative encounter 

forged in intimacy 

confirmed in community

and preserved in story.

Intimacy, community, story

three elements of formation.

that make way for encounter

and lead us to transformation