Tired, but continuing onward…

Now he (Jesus) had to go through Samaria.  Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. The woman (at the well, at end of talk) said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us. ”Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. John 4:4,6,40,41

Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance. Samuel Johnson

When I did a spring hike to Yosemite Point (think all uphill and snow for the last part), I was exhausted as I was hiking back down. I wondered how I would ever finish the hike; so much uphill followed by downhill steps that seemed to go on forever. I stopped to rest and drink some water, but I knew that I needed to continue on, after a rest. The journey was not done.

It’s not hard to imagine Jesus, who had been preaching and discipling in Judea, being exhausted after walking half the 70 mile distance from Judea towards Galilee.  He’s thirsty and stops at a well in Samaria. It’s warm in the morning sun and he needs to rest. His human body is tired from the long walk and his heart and spirit are tired from his ministry work. While he is there at the well, a Samarian woman comes to get water, so a conversation ensues and the woman gives him water.  Even though Jesus was quite tired, he continued to do God’s work by conversing with the woman at the well.  God the Father blessed this effort in a mighty way by using their conversation to reach Samarians to become believers.

Sometimes, even when we are tired, we need to be open to doing what thing(s) God is calling us to do right then, anyway.  Yes, there are times when we do need an extended rest but, just as my hike wasn’t done when I rested, we need to continue onward in reflecting God’s love to others. There’s never a time in our lives when we will be done with sharing God’s love and message of hope.