Living Water: A Reflection on the Woman at the Well
Written by: Sister Olivia Maria Latiano, SND
O Woman at the well. I know you.
You keep dragging your water jars
to the stagnant waters outside of you
where others have power over you
and you feel small
and overwhelmed
and responsible.
I know you.
The water you seek
can be found, is found, flowing,
welling up from within you.
Let that overwhelm you!
You cannot control that.
Don’t try.
Like Meister E. says
it is “Whyless”
Sit by your own waterfall.
Your inner thirst, Quencher and Energizer.
I am your living waters.
You are My living water.
Not the same
but inseparable and unquenchable.
This waterfall never stops welling up.
I am its source
and you are its source.
We are its source
and its flow and its roar,
its power.
No matter how you feel,
you are not small in the way you imagine.
You are small,
but in the beautiful way I need (and you need) you to be.
You are not overwhelmed in the way you imagine,
but in the way a waterfall overwhelms
and refashions the landscape it travels,
the hard rocks it splashes over,
creating deep wells for all who would drink.
Drink from your own well!
Let the sound of your inner water
relax and nourish you.
Be.
Learn from your flowing water,
our flowing flowering water.
Listen to its freedom
and take heed of its route.
Allow it to stretch and strengthen you.
Nothing will get in its way or impede its flow
… not even you!
