The Modern Day Samaritan Woman

From the onset, I must confess that today’s post is something I’m embarassed to share. It reveals a condition of the heart that clearly – God is purging.

This past Saturday, I was in Mt. Airy, NC. participating in a Women’s Conference. I was 1 of 3 speakers. My turn was after lunch. The first speaker, Phyllis Foy taught on the Samaritan woman. Her message was powerful. I’ll share a key verse, but I encourage you to read John 4:4-30.

The Samaritan woman was not accepted by other women. Her low self-esteem and hunger for love and acceptance caused her to make many bad choices. We learn that she had had 5 husbands and was currently shacking up with her new man. She was probably abused and the town’s source of ridicule. No other self-respecting woman wanted to engage her. This woman was lonely and was thirsty – no, starving for intimacy with God, but did not know it.

She went to the well at the sixth hour. This was a time when no one else would be there. It was probably easier that way. Little did she know the Divine appointment awaiting her that day. Jesus was waiting for her when she arrived. And He engaged with her. He didn’t judge her or give her 3 point sermon on the attrocity of her life-style. He just simply asked in so many words, “How can I help you?”

Well, following lunch on Saturday, I wanted some solitude before it was my turn to speak. So I headed for my car. Across the street from the church was a delapadated house – falling apart at the seams. The owners were holding a yard sale. Girlfriend, you’ve never seen so much stuff! Junk in my mind.

Then a woman stepped out onto the front porch. She was probably in her late 50’s; 100-150 pounds over weight; short shorts; halter top; cigarette dangling from her lips; yelling at a man in a sleeveless, white undershirt and jeans.

My knee-jerk inward response? A sarcastic, “lovely… quality,” sadly, without an ounce of remorse.

As I sat in my car, trying to review my notes, I kept turning to watch what was unfolding on the porch behind me. It was a spectacle. Immediately, I heard in my heart, “go over there.”

“What,” I said?

“Go over there.” All of a sudden, Phyllis’ teaching flooded my heart. That woman on the porch… was a modern day Samaritan woman. And here we are, the church, a conference for women giving out the very thing she needs: Jesus – and has she been invited?

I put all my things away and walked over to her house. Receiving “the look” as I approached, I shyly introduced myself and asked if I could come on the porch to talk to her. The porch was so unstable – it felt like I would fall through the boards.

As I approached the woman – that truly – just 5 minutes ago – I would have labeled “riff-raff”, I found myself looking deep into her wounded, weary, and worn eyes. At that moment, I didn’t see what ‘Tara’ initially saw. I saw what ‘God’ sees: A woman who was completely broken. At that moment I was convicted to the core. It’s amazing how judgementalism and a critical, haughty spirit can be woven into the fabric of our very being. God was revealing not only this woman – but how He saw me as well: prideful, haughty, judgemental, critical. Probably not too different from the women in Samaria during Jesus’ day.

Filled with shame and embarassment, I really didn’t know what to say, except to invite her to come eat with us. I told her what we were doing across the street and invited her to be my guest if she would come. Her response: “I’m not fit to go there…” She proceeded to tell me the most heart-breaking story I have ever heard. I just listened and cried with her. I asked for her name and promised that I would pray for her. (The event planners at this point were calling my name from the church’s front doors. It was go time.)

Walking across the street – I thanked the Lord for revealing the deep-rooted ugliness in my heart. And asked for His forgiveness. I also prayed for Rhonda. I prayed that HE would someone else to minister to this very broken, hurting woman. Someone, who will give her Jesus.

Since this weekend, my eyes have been opened to the reality of the Modern Day Samaritan. Isn’t it amazing, how we often cling to the people who look like us; who act like us; who dress like us; who worship like us and who live and work in our self-proclaimed acceptable social circles?

What is your knee-jerk response to the woman who falls outside of your prototype? Are you too, like me (before Saturday) stand-offish? Distant? Unengaged? Critical? Judgemental?

If you don’t know the answer, just wait till the Lord brings you a modern day Samaritan woman. And oh, He will! I will pray that your response is better than mine.

Have a great day! Be on the look out…