Deep And Wide Hearts

One of my favorite authors is Megan McKenna.   Recently in our library I spotted one of her books I hadn’t seen before: “Lent: Reflections and Stories on the Daily Readings” (1996).  Her 3rd Sunday of Lent reflection had the following story about a well and its meaning.   Based on a modern African folktale, it reads as follows (shortened for this blog):

One day Nobiah’s mother is sick and cannot go to the well.   Her young son, Nobiah, is given the heavy responsibility.  It’s a daily task, and a very long walk is needed to bring water to drink and for their garden.

Nobiah sets off in the baking sun and finally reaches the well where he fills his jug.   He begins his return to his mother, and his thirst immediately begins.  It’s so very hot.  His feet burn on the sands. 

First, he meets a hedgehog who is very thirsty and pleads for water.   Nobiah is kind, and fills  a small hole with water where the hedgehog drinks then goes away.  Nobiah continues with the jug a bit lighter.

Next, Nobiah meets a hyena with her cubs.  The mother begs for water for her cubs, and Nobiah is reminded of his baby sister.  Again, he fills a hole with water, and the hyenas drink greedily, then run off.

He meets another creature – a small ant-bear near death in the afternoon sun.   Nobiah pours waters into his hands, and the ant-bear drinks.   It says, “Thank you my friend.  Your heart is as big and deep as the well that gives this water.”  The ant-bear leaves, and Nobiah is almost home.

Finding his baby sister, Nobiah gives her water to drink, then his mother.   His mother tells him to pour the rest of the water on the garden that is wilting and in desperate need of water.  But, when he goes to empty the jug, only a few drops spill out.    His mother frantically yells at him, “What have you done?!” 

Nobiah tells her that he shared his water with the small animals he met on the way home.    Crying in frustration and anger, she seized the jug, threw it to the ground breaking it, and then collapsed weeping. 

“How could you have wasted our precious water on those creatures?” she cried.    Nobiah answered, “They were as thirsty as all of us.”

It was soon night, and all went to sleep, but Nobiah was awakened by the hedgehog, the hyena with her cubs, and the ant-bear with all saying, “Nobiah, I am thirsty.  Please give me something to drink.”   Crying, Nobiah replied, “Go away.  I have no more water to give.”

All the animals then said together, “Then dig a well for us all.” Nobiah sat up and said, “How can I dig a well?   The sand is deep, and the ground is hard.  I have just my hands.”

“We’ll help you,” they all say, and they do.   The ant-bear claws; the hyenas scratch; the hedgehog burrows; and Nobiah uses his hands to scoop.   They dig and dig, but only find sand and grit.  “How deep do we have to go?” asked Nobiah.  

The ant-bear answers, “As deep as your heart and as wide as your thirst.”   Nobiah, being a small boy is tired and falls asleep.  The animals keep on and work throughout the night.

When the sun rises, Nobiah wakes up and hears the sound of gurgling water.  Besides the hole is a new jug.  Nobiah lowers the jug and slowly fills the jar with cold, clean water.    Screaming with joy, he wakes his little sister and mother who exclaims, “We have our own water to share with the villagers!” 

Nobiah reminds them to share the water with the animals who gave him the idea and who worked hard to make the gift they all shared.   So the villagers included the animals and leave water for them.    They also place a clay pot next to the well as a reminder of the truth: “When digging a well, it must as deep as your heart and wide as your thirst.”

On the Third Sunday of Lent we went to the well where we shared our source of life: the word and the eucharist.  Now, as Megan McKenna suggests, “Today [and every day] we are called to dig into our souls and hearts, and let ourselves be seen as disciples.”   The water we find is the love we must share with other people – friends and strangers – quenching their thirsts for compassion and kindness.

The question we all face this Lent is how deep and wide are our hearts?

Deacon David Pierce