The Well

 I wrote this about 22 years ago, but I found it recently in my papers, and I think it is still relevant.

The Well

An imaginary conversation with God

Oh, God.  How kind of you to come.  I want to show you my prayer life.  Please come and look.  Isn’t it pretty?

What is THAT?

It’s a wishing well.  Look.  See how nicely I made it. It has a roof, and a bucket, and the walls are neatly cemented.  There’s even a dipper for people who want to take a drink.

What’s it for?

For wishing, of course.  When I want something, I take a coin, and make a wish, and throw it in. Other people can wish for things too.  Not everyone has a wishing well as nice as this one.  I’ve worked very hard to make it nice.  Everyone can see how nice my wishing well is. And look, I use really good coins. There’s fasting, and worship, and good deeds, and tithing. See how they sparkle and glitter? Everyone can see what a good wishing well I have.

And does this wishing change anything?

It makes me feel like I’ve done something. That’s what prayer is all about isn’t it?  Everyone knows prayer is a good  thing.  And sometimes good things happen, after I’ve wished forthem.

Yes, sometimes good things happen.

I know the wishing part may not work too well.  But this is still a wonderful well. Look at the water, here for anyone to drink.

I see.  It doesn’t look very deep.

Well, no.

Or very fresh.

No. But it’s better than nothing, you know.

Maybe. Where does the water come from?

Oh, well, now. Here and there. Sometimes I get some from someone else’s wishing well.  Sometimes it rains.  Of course, the new roof keeps out most of the rainwater. But the roof is pretty, don’t you think? It helps me keep everything under control.  Only the water that I put in goes into this well.

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

O God.  Umm, this doesn’t look very much like that, does it?

[silence]

God, what do You want me to do?

I want to dig a well. A real one.

Aaah…Just where did you say this well was going to be?

You heard.

God?….A real well is going to mean an awful lot of work.

I’ll do the work.  But you’re going to be with me.

There’s going to be an awful lot of mud and stones. Plaes where it’s hard to dig. I’m not sure what we’ll find under the surface.  I’m a little scared of what we’lll find under the surface.

Don’t worry. I already know everything that we’re going to run into. I’m a master well-digger. Trust me.

God? It could get dark being at the bottom of a real well. And scary.  And lonely.

“I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you.” I’ll be there.

Yeah, but nobody else will be.

Does that really matter?

No.  No.  No.

O God, forgive me for thinking that my fancy wishing well was prayer.  Come, dig a well in my heart. Let me go to the depths of my being with You, so that out of my heart can flow streams of your living water. Come Holy Spirit. Have Your way in my life and in my heart.