Wellbeing

I preached this morning on the Israelites' need for physical water in the wilderness contrasted with their spiritual need to trust God, alongside the story of the Samaritan woman’s conversation with Jesus as she drew physical water at the well, during which she received what she really needed, the spiritual Water of Life.

Suddenly, as I spoke, I was struck by the wonderful double meaning of the word “wellbeing”. It may be obvious to some, but I had not seen it before, that “well-being” is “being by the well”, drawing the Water of Life from Jesus.

Many people feel that to have wellbeing all you need is a healthy diet and exercise regime; this is only part of the picture. We all have an innate, inner craving for nourishment for our souls. Yes, we need physical sustenance, food and water, daily, but humans also need spiritual sustenance daily. The only way to get the latter is by being constantly by the well, drawing that spiritual water through prayer and Bible reading.

In the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, his beautiful, gentle evangelism was exemplary – not pushy, not preachy, not judgmental or critical of her life, taking time to get to know her, responding to her questions and addressing her deeper needs. We can learn from this.

It is a balance of both physical and spiritual that society needs. Holistic wellbeing requires food and water for body and soul; you cannot neglect either. Of course, if people do not have access to the former it is our duty as Christians to do our best to ensure they get their physical needs first and work towards a fairer British society and wider world. But being honest in the UK most people have access to the former and many disregard the latter. There is a great thirst in our communities which only Jesus can fill.

If we always camp by the well, we will be filled and refreshed with the Water of Life.

Wellbeing is being by the well.