After a lifetime of turmoil, shame, disappointments, depression, bad decisions, rejection,
barrenness and now an empty soul, the Woman at the Well is ready to receive the living
water Jesus offers...but first she must own her imperfections and shortcomings.
*****
Finally, she musters enough courage and says, "Sir, give me this water that I may not thirst
nor come here to draw water."
Aida cannot comprehend the meaning of the stranger's words because she's not thinking
spiritually. Her mindset is of the flesh, hoping to avoid her daily journey of traveling such
a long distance for water in the day's heat.
Then Aida begins to feel the self-imposed barriers releasing her heart, and her spirit feels
calm, serene, and peaceful. Just on the verge of her soul becoming completely free, the
stranger gives a jaw-dropping, gut-wrenching, horrifying command.
He tells her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."
Baffled, perplexed, bewildered, and ashamed all at the same time, Aida feels the chains
tighten their grip around her heart with increased intensity, reclaiming control.
Aida gasps, ruminating over his words, "Husband? Did he say go call my husband?"
*****
In Quench the Thirst, LaJuana R. Sherman invites us to contemplate the life of this remarkable
woman, weaving a tapestry of imagination and faith that offers a fresh perspective on her
encounters with the divine.
The story of the Woman at the Well, as recounted in the Gospel of John, is a powerful
testament to the transformative power of grace and compassion. LaJuana's unique approach
of storytelling, which she aptly dubs "Inspired Creative Christian Fiction," takes us beyond
the mere verses of scripture and into the vivid world she has crafted with care and reverence.
Rev. Bryan Carter
Senior Pastor, Concord Church
Dallas, Texas
