"He told me everything I ever did."

These are the words of the Samaritan woman at the well. I'm sure you've heard the story told in John 4. The woman was by herself in the middle of the day, presumably to be away from the spiteful, sniping gossips of her day. While she was there, Jesus came upon her asking for a drink. There was some discussion about the well, living water, how many times she'd been married and her current living arrangements. Jesus was neither judgmental nor harsh. His tone and demeanor didn't threaten or pain her. She didn't rush off but listened to what He had to tell her. As a result many came to believe in Jesus. They even came to listen, at least this one time, to this woman and the story she had to tell. This may have been a turning point in her life beyond the living water Jesus spoke of. Perhaps the townspeople treated her somewhat better after she brought them into the light of Jesus words.

An idea strikes me today as I read this passage (with the help of an unlikely book called 40 Fascinating Places of the Bible about Samaria). In this book, there is a section called "what's in it for me? (WIIFM)" It's the answer to what does this place and the Bible events there have to do with me today. The place is Samaria; the story is the woman at the well. The WIIFM on page 87 is "Jesus already knew everything about the woman at the well in Samaria - but HE still took the time to talk with her. He wants to hear from us today too." Of course that brought me to prayer. I've often thought how silly it is to tell God what my problem is, or what awful thing I've done, or what I want, my desires and dreams because He already knows. He is God.

But this face to face encounter with Jesus in person makes this question disappear. I am not surprised that Jesus listened to the woman without judgment. I am not surprised that Jesus treated her with respect like anyone else he met. I am not surprised that He loved her. I am encouraged that even though Jesus already knows the story, He is still interested in the story and how it impacts me and how He can use it to make me whole. This passage gives me permission to bore Jesus by repeating my story over and over until I am done repeating it (unlike most people I know, me included, who get bored pretty quickly at hearing me rehash and rehash the same story!)

I appreciate all the people that God uses to write books, devotionals, music, etc that bring me closer to understanding what I can about God and the ways He works. Even a book that is an unlikely "devotional".

Jesus, thank you so much for the personal encounters that are in the Bible and how those encounters are glimpses of how I can encounter You each day. I appreciate the Holy Spirit that stirs thoughts and reflections so I can grasp something new about You. I thank God for all of it. In Your name. Amen.

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