Renegade Water-Well Driller

I wanted it to be so much more. I wanted to come away from the water-well drill training with a passion to go be a renegade water-well driller around the world. I wanted to be Superman with a cape on, but instead of a cape I would have a pipe wrench and a LS-300 drilling rig, and instead of saving the world I would bring clean water to those who desperately need it. I wanted to be a hero and a world-changer. I wanted to come home and quit my job to traverse the globe bringing water in Jesus’ name. I wanted so much more.

Now, don’t get me wrong and think that the training was not helpful or awesome. It was as much as I expected it to be and more. However, I come away from the training as a realist and not the complete idealist that I used to be. I did not come away with a desire to quit my job, but a desire to continue in my job. I did not come away thinking that I can save the world with water, but realizing that I am so unneeded and have very little to bring to the table. I wanted to come away thinking that the answer was just more drill trips, more volunteers, more rigs, or more organizations, but yet I came away thinking the exact opposite.

Water does not save people. Americans taking a week-long trip does not save people. Drilling rigs do not save people. More organizations do not save people. Jesus saves people.

My attitude going into this Living Water adventure was that we would drill these people a water-well and they would instantly have their eyes open to the truth that Jesus is The Living Water. Not likely, though surely possible. I thought that if we would just go on a trip and talk about Jesus that their hearts would be turned to the truth. Not necessarily. I wanted to believe that going would somehow cause God to act wondrously, because I took such sacrifice, as if we could control God with our actions. I wanted to believe that I was doing something extraordinary that deserved notoriety, honor and renown, but really my heart should be bent toward having God receive all of that. I wanted so much more.

This training was eye opening for me. Sure, I could see myself spending many years partnered with Living Water. Sure, I believe that God has gifted and skilled me to be good at this. Sure, I know that I have a deep desire to use this tool and find great joy in it. But I think I already knew that before I went to the drill camp. This training was eye opening, because I think I have begun to see that God does not need me in the least sense of the word. When He moves, He moves regardless of who is on board and who is in the way. I have begun to see that God does not need me, but rather allows me to walk in obedience. I have begun to see that my idealistic views of missions and spreading the Gospel might just be way off from the truth. I think this is the beginning of God shifting my understanding of reaching the nations.

I wanted to believe that I could save the world because of my great sacrifice, but have been convinced of the opposite. People don’t need more water, or cleaner water, or education, or hygiene, or more books, or more money. People need Jesus, and only He can open their hearts to Him. Only Jesus saves. Only Jesus is The Answer.