Sharing Our Stories

By Reverend Andy Fleming, Chaplain

Quite regularly, students ask me how I went from being a physical education teacher to a chaplain. There appears to be a level of surprise and curiosity about how someone could make this particular career move. However, sharing my story of faith breaks assumptions and perceptions due to the knowledge of my former positions.

The season of Lent can be a time of reflecting on one’s story. I enjoy hearing the journey of others and am often encouraged by the journey people take. Last Sunday, the Gospel reading shared in church was what is commonly known as the Samaritan woman at the well. This particular story is the longest-recorded conversation Jesus has with another person. It just happens to be with a woman from a despised and loathed group of people. Jesus risks being ostracised by his people by associating with her.

During their conversation, we learn the Samaritan woman has had five husbands and is currently with another man who is not her husband. Because we don’t hear her whole story about her life, we form negative conclusions about her situation.

However, reading the story further reveals these judgements are unfair and that we find the woman to be honest, open-minded and willing to initially help Jesus drink the water from the well and then accept Jesus’ offer to drink the living water.

After believing the living water Jesus offers is to have faith in Jesus the Messiah, the woman shares this story with others in her community. Some believe her testimony, while others go and see Jesus for themselves. This community becomes a community of faith. It is unlikely this could have occurred if those negative judgements of the woman had been true. Understanding that her story could have been one of some tragedy - being repeatedly widowed and having to be supported by brothers or close relatives of her first husband, which was a societal expectation and commonly practised at the time.

Knowing the truth of the Samaritan woman’s story allowed her community to discover the promise of Jesus for themselves. How great are the opportunities for us to put aside our own perceptions and judgements and learn from the stories of others.

Anything and Everything

A poem by Rev. Sarah Speed

I’d give you a drink,
a warm cup of tea with lemon and mint,
a confetti cannon, roses from the garden,
my favourite sweatshirt, a bed to lay in,
homemade bread, a hand to hold.

I’d give you my full attention.
I’d give you my phone,
and say, put your number in.
I’d give you the melody line,
a standing ovation,
a sense of security.

I’d give you anything and everything
if it made you believe
that you were enough.

May you find God’s peace in the week ahead.