Journeying To the Well

 "What does it take to go down to the well, 

To find the spring, the source, 

To come up and share our offerings? 

And then to go back down to the well again and again, 

Filling our vessels with living waters, 

Sharing our sustenance without hesitation,  

Giving of ourselves with grace and love?" 

Rabbi Yael Levy, meditation on Genesis 24:19, 

Directing the Heart, Weekly Mindfulness 

Teachings and Practices from the Torah    

   

I am trying to exercise some discipline, and work my way again through Rabbi Yael's thoughtful, inspiring book.  My intention is to attend her Monday morning Torah study on Zoom (www.awayin.org). However, she is Pennsylvania, and 11:00 a.m. for her and most of her students is 8:00 a.m. here on the West Coast. Some Mondays, like yesterday when there was a complication with our dog Jack, I fall short. This morning, I am grateful to read this meditation.  

We humans often do fall short, and sometimes we fall long. Yet, grace is always there to help us arise once more with dignity and purpose. We must not take the falling more seriously than the getting up.  

Jesus was born into a practicing Jewish family. We get a glimpse of him at the age of twelve conversing with the rabbis in the temple. I have come to believe that if Christians want to draw closer to Jesus and his teachings, we need to look at his Jewish roots. Because of Jesus, these roots are our roots. This meditation is a reflection about Rebekah who offered water to Isaac's servant and his camels. It could just as easily be a reflection on the story of the Samaritan woman meeting Jesus at the well.  Hopefully, it is also a reflection about you and me. 

      

image: San Leandro, June, 2022