Of the beaten track.

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MY wife’s grandfather was a skilled mechanic who saw active service across North Africa and up through Italy during WWII. Throughout that time he was constantly on the move.

One evening, in a sidestreet off the market square of an isolated village on the edge of the Sahara Desert, he rounded a corner and bumped into his own younger brother. He knew his brother was serving in the army, but not what unit he was in or where in the world he was posted. Their chance meeting might never have happened if either of them had passed a few moments earlier or later. The younger brother was then smuggled into a sergeant’s mess for an impromptu family reunion. Sometimes the most interesting encounters come when we are off the beaten track.

For three years, Jesus was constantly travelling. On one such journey from Judea to Galilee, he passed through Samaria.

The story is in John 4.1-30, 39-42. Samaria was off the beaten track, for Jewish travellers like Jesus and his friends.

Tensions, religious rivalries and violence were common between Jewish and Samaritan people. Samaria was not a comfortable or safe place to be. That’s why a simple shopping trip into the village of Sychar needs all twelve disciples. Lingering in Samaria was unwise for Galileans. Yet in this difficult and out-of-the-way place, one of the most significant of gospel encounters takes place.

By a well, Jesus meets someone who differs from him in gender, race, religion and lifestyle. The easy option would be for both to keep silent, maintain their distance and get on with their own lives. Not for the only time, Jesus shuns the easy option and opts for the risky encounter.

Common ground for small talk should be easy. They are at a well, and they both need water. Jesus comes as a thirsty traveller, the woman on the daily chore of fetching water.

Even conversation on a basic need like water isn’t easy, but at least some common ground is established. There are prejudices about sharing a cup to overcome, and a prickly discussion when the woman thinks Jesus is making some insinuation about her respected ancestor Jacob. The offer of living water Jesus makes leaves her bemused at first.

When the conversation strays too close to the difficult personal subjects, the woman diverts it to a religious debate. Jesus and the Samaritan woman don’t resolve all the religious and other issues which divide them. She gets no advice on how to disentangle her personal relationships, and gives no hint as to whether she is convinced by Jesus’ views on worship. That’s not the point of the story.

By starting with the little things they have in common, a relationship is established so conversation about hard issues can take place. Jesus speaks to her in terms she understands, does not dwell on their obvious differences, treats her with respect and reflects God’s love to her in their encounter. From that she is led to ask, “Could this be the messiah?”

When we welcome rather than avoid the out-of-the-way encounter, seek common ground, speak openly, honestly and respectfully with others about our differences, and in all of it recognise in the other a God-given neighbour, then the love of God can overcome seemingly impossible barriers.

The Rev Richard Baxter is minister at Fort William: Duncansburgh MacIntosh linked with Kilmonivaig

This article appears in the February 2018 Issue of Life and Work

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