A Well of Moral Messages

Handpainted, bas relief carving, "The Woman at the Well," by Adelbert "Delly" Henderson was completed in 1921. "A.D." or "Delly" Henderson (July 11, 1862 – July 17, 1938) was born in Kaysville, Utah, but moved to Clifton, Idaho at age 16, where he eventually died. He was a Clifton man and a Latter-day Saint. He is now remembered for his wood-sculptures , which are now scattered across the west. During his life he was a builder, a contractor, an architect, a mercantile storeowner, a postman, and a Idaho State legislator (1913-1916).

My favorite story in all of scripture and perhaps all of literature is the story of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well (see John 4:7-29). From the Jewish perspective of the times, she had three strikes against her: 1) she was a woman; 2) she was a Samaritan; and 3) she was living with a man outside of marriage. She represented someone truly at the bottom of the social totem pole. But, Jesus singled her out and treated her with respect, to the surprise of his disciples (John 4:27).

Even today, we are surprised by Jesus, because our prejudices are so easily expressed. We sometimes take gospel standards, apply them to others, and then conclude those OTHERS are NOT living as they should. From that easy springboard we may slip into castigating, marginalizing, derogating, and diminishing others. In doing so, we feel superior. Something is deeply wrong with that formula.

Our churches cannot be spiritual hospitals if they are full of necrotizing judgments that scare the sick away.

Jesus had the ability to make the Samaritan woman at the well feel enlighted, enough so that she could turn her life around. He never told her to get away. Instead, he asked her for a drink of water. He taught her righteous principles in a respectful manner, and he allowed her to come to her own conclusions. Conversion does not come by coercion; it comes by compassion.

The story about Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well is a moral message against prejudice and bigotry. It establishes a standard of behavior for Christians who wish to serve God by being servants of humankind.

If we Latter-day Saints wish to be a more welcomed and welcoming peoples, then I hope we would remember the woman at the well.

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For more about the Samaritan woman, please read my essay: The Woman at Jacob's Well.

For more about the pictured carving and Delly Henderson, please read my essay: Carving the Meaning of Life.

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Copyright © 2011 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.




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