Fearless Faith

After 52 years, the water well supplying the house we live in decided to retire, which is a polite way of saying the casing collapsed. There is never a right time to dwell on such happy events, so we looked instead to brighter elements of the situation that might ease our pain.

Unlike other moments when previous pumps were replaced (three that we know of since 1995), the weather was not a factor. No crazy wind, no rain, no ice or snow. An emergency well permit was issued in a timely manner and crews were available on short notice to drill a replacement bore. To a person, they were gracious and accommodating while tolerating our most naïve questions.

After nearly three weeks without water, it was amazing how quickly we learned to despise five-gallon buckets, even when unloaded close to the back door. Gracious neighbors hauled a trailer and water tank from their place to keep us well supplied with water for utility purposes. Despite knowing the situation, habit had us reaching for unresponsive faucet handles several times each day. Like plaintiff poets or wistful song writers, we admit to deeply missing our water only now after it is gone. Where would we be without it?

Timelines notwithstanding, imagine foundational Biblical narratives without water, including the creation of oceans and seas and all that was in them. Would we worry less over foundations built on rock or sand? What if Moses never floated his boat or Jonah was swallowed by a T-rex instead of a fish? How would purity codes in the Hebrew Bible survive without water as a holy cleansing element? And water into wine? Gotta have water first.

Of course, Noah would be up a creek, reducing flood stories to children’s book formats, although one could credibly argue that that occurs regardless. Peter’s attempt at walking on water would still be worth the price of admission if taken as comedic expression. How would we discern the healing presence of God at the pools of Bethesda without the pools? And where could the majority of The Twelve earn their living as fishermen if not on the water?

How would baptisms be done if flowing water were an unavailable resource? What would water’s value be in such arid environs? Would Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well occur at all, or would it simply be populated with an assortment of new metaphors? One of the most striking stories of faith that I recall from a young age was the improbable, even preposterous, idea of Moses striking a rock with a staff and water coming forth. Such an account is mentioned or referred to some seven times throughout scriptures. And then…

An awakening. Not everything in scripture comes to us plainly. In my case it was a rock. A rock from South America. A rock from South America with water in it, perhaps millions of years old. Referred to as an agate enhydro, such rocks are easily found online and available to add to rock collections if people are so inclined. A slice from one side of the agate reveals water and entrapped bubbles easily seen by tilting the stone to one side or the other. Go Moses! I stand humbled.

The point? Appreciate what you have before it is gone from your life. Use common sense and intellect in reading and interpreting scripture, but do not be eager to discard everything that does not immediately make sense. Time is an ally and a comfortable companion when shared freely with others. As for the well, the two most important numbers were $75/foot and 560 feet. I will leave the math to you.