Better Together

So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.

He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.

The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”
John 4:3-9 (New Living Translation)

A few years ago, the Heineken Beer Company did an ad campaign titled “Worlds Apart”. Their idea was to bring two strangers together from opposing ends of divisive issues. Once the strangers entered, they had to work together to build what turns out to be a bar. During the process, they answer questions about themselves and learn about one another. Finally, after spending this time together building the bar, they are asked to watch a short film where they hear the other person’s views about said issue. They then have a choice to make: they can leave or they can stay and discuss things over a beer. Each and every one of them stays, discusses, and makes a connection.

Community comes from being in proximity with people. It isn’t something we can really accomplish without coming together with people and being able to work out our differences. That happens by finding the common ground and listening.

In John 4, we read about Jesus talking to a Samaritan woman. Jews and Samaritans didn’t really get along, and men and women who were unrelated or not married to one another didn’t spend time talking to each other. But Jesus was and is different. Jesus was willing to put aside differences, to work for peace with the people he encountered regardless of who they were or what their differences might be.

So, may we seek to wage peace with others by putting aside preconceived ideas and prejudices and instead simply be present and listen.

Grace & Peace y’all
Blake