A Woman ... and a Well

Some time ago – give or take 3 years – my oldest daughter was working to complete not one but two majors while at UC Davis. Needless to say, I was feeling a sense of pride in her accomplishment (not sure why I was feeling the pride since SHE was the one working so hard ... but ... I digress).  All that to say -- I was pleased one day when, while getting into my vehicle at Shasta College, I saw a former church member who was also heading to her car. She inquired as to my kids – how they were doing, where they were at, etc. (Her son and my daughter were the same age so I began to tell her about my daughter’s whereabouts. Said I ( beaming with pride), “She’s at UC Davis!”

*Insert wide mouth grin here.*


Immediately my response was met with a literal scowl, a vehement negative shaking of her head, followed by a question as to how I could "allow my daughter to attend a heathen and secular school where the devil rules” – a “wicked” establishment.  

*Wide mouth grin dissolves. Insert sad face here.*

I am not proud to say that, as we both entered our cars, I was s-t-e-w-i-n-g.  I got in my car as quickly as I could, pulled out of my parking space (I think I checked the rear mirror - not sure?), drove over to where she had parked, stopped behind her vehicle to BLOCK her in (yes, really), rolled down my window as she was opening the driver’s side door and … yelled … ‘YEAH?! WELL JESUS WOULD HAVE ATTENDED UC DAVIS – HE WOULD HAVE BEEN AT THAT 'WICKED' ESTABLISHMENT. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN LOVING THE ATTENDEES OF THAT 'HEATHEN AND SECULAR' SCHOOL.’

She then yelled back, ‘OH NO HE WOULDN'T HAVE!”
Then said yours truly, “OH YES HE WOULD HAVE!’

You can see how well this was going.

We both reverted back to about age 12 (that might be stretching it!) and got absolutely n-o-w-h-e-r-e. I drove away so full of anger toward her.  Then I was so mad at God for allowing "people like her" to spout their hate - to call themselves "Christian" - I told Him she gave Him a bad name.  (I really did.)  At that moment - many negative experiences with certain past church members, etc., smacked me once again in the face.

To be honest, I felt as hateful as I was inwardly accusing her of being. After I drove away, I pulled my car over in that lot and realized I was shaking. I thought, "How dare she?!" This same lady who once told my kids the Easter bunny was a demon – (and wow … did she spoil the basket fun THAT YEAR. ha)

So there I sat - age 12 - in a college parking lot. Mad.
Really mad.

Then I thought about Jesus.   You know ... WWJD?

I thought of Him with Zaccheus.
I thought of Him amidst a large group of people, stones in hand, facing down an adulterous woman asking the one without sin to toss that first rock.  (NOTE:  Nobody could ...)
I thought of Him talking with another woman - at a well.

And I drove away ... embarrassed.

Now today -- I am thinking of Jesus again.

I'm picturing Him having a conversation with a straight person at Burger King.
I’m picturing Him sitting on a park bench talking with a person who is openly gay.
I’m picturing Him asking a woman who had an abortion if he can join her for dinner later in the day to talk.
I 'm picturing Him comforting a pastor struggling with an upcoming funeral service for a young child.

Average Janes and Joes - having a conversation with Jesus - He was honest.  He sat with any and everyone who wanted to join him.  He engaged others.  He loved.

The ones that really got on His nerves were the ones who thought they were better than others (check 'em out - they go by the name Pharisees).


And you know what I think - and this is just me so take it with a grain of salt - but I think Jesus is big enough to handle our world and its “issues”.

I think Jesus can take care of things.

Here's the deal:  Do I realize that there were times Jesus had to be straight up and say, "Okay listen - you messed up.  Don't do it again."  (Paraphrase - I know ... it was more like, "Go and sin no more.") I'm not glossing over the fact that there are consequences for choices we make in life.  Trust me - I know this.  I really know this.  Many MANY times I am reminded that he still loves me – a divorced woman who judged people who divorced prior to her own “six months + of stupidity" in her past which led to a divorce herself.  It's a past that some would be happy to bring up in an attempt to stir up shame ... (shame that is, quite honestly, always close to the surface and really doesn't need much "stirring up" for me to recall).


At times, even while writing this I was judging thinking about recent political posts and internet news stories and I was thinking in my head, "Wow – I really hate hateful people.”  How's THAT for irony!

**Ouch. Will you please excuse me for a moment while I pause to take the log out of my eye? … **

In closing - I realize it might be difficult to not chime in and comment back to me about my own interpretations (above) being inaccurate, that I'm using scripture too loosely, etc.  I get it.  I'm the first to admit that I'm no theologian AND I've probably messed up some points.  Further, as I stated, I have served as judge/jury MANY times for those I have felt anger or disgust toward -- I've been especially hard and outspoken about child molesters and/or even currently - those I feel work to intentionally turn others against me for my past mistakes - be it out of anger or hurt they still harbor.  I need to work on ALL of the points I touched on above -- especially forgiveness and understanding.  I need to let go and let God.  He can bring about reconcilliation, forgiveness, understanding. 

I think He can.  Actually, I think ONLY He can.

My bottom line is:  If you are so positive God can handle the job of "saving" you from your crap ... I'm pretty sure He would also be able to handle the job of saving others whom you might be inclined to think you are ... > than

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

One other thing:  If by chance you find yourself worrying about someone coming “OUT” of the closet … please remember you were once told you to get “IN” yours … to pray. 

"The One who is able to hear is also able to handle."