When I was a child, I pumped water from a well, on top of a wooden platform much like the one in the photograph. A few trees surrounded it, creating a sort of oasis in the summertime. I liked this chore, sometimes having to lean hard on the handle to draw the water up and into the pail. It would then sit by the porcelain sink in the kitchen, with a metal dipper hanging from its side. That water tasted so good. It was cold and clear.
"Though I speak with the the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail, whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now, we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."
~ The Bible, 1 Corinthians 13
Photograph: Aroostook County, Maine, 1942, by John Vachon.
Interesting, but I am not sure what it means or where you are pointing me. Perhaps I am required to search for my own meaning in the words, perhaps you are merely pointing me to the water and asking me to drink.
ReplyDeleteTimes have changed but the truth has not.
ReplyDeleteHello Teresa:
ReplyDeleteOf course Charity [Love] has to be the greatest of the three. A salutary reminder of the need to exercise it at all times.
Alan, The Bible has become such a part of our culture and I find certain books within it to be very poetic. I try not to direct anyone, I just post about where my thoughts seem to be at the time and this had been coming to mind. It's a slice of my childhood and I still find the words to be beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLinda M, These words do contain great truths, no matter where a person stands on anything else found therein. Thank you for responding.
ReplyDeleteJane and Lance, Indeed. Charity (Love) requires that it be exercised. It's not just a word, it's an action.
Dear Teresa, I, too, pumped water from our well and watched the water man drive up to it every so often with the large water tank on the back of his track. Water would gush into the well. So your picture brought memories back to me too.
ReplyDeleteAlso your quote from Corinthians touched that part of myself that knows that while I see in a glass darkly right now, when I let go of concentrating on myself and instead respond attentively to others than I live in the charity of the moment. Thank you.
Love that b/w photo of the little girl at the pump. John Vachon, one of my favorite photographers along with all those black and white photo guys from the Farm Security Administration days. Color photos were exciting when they became popular but for me, they can't hold a candle (perhaps a pun intended :) )to the old black and white.
ReplyDeleteDee, It's so nice to hear from you. Yes, I agree. And, in responding to others, our own needs are met. In seeing others, I see myself.
ReplyDeleteHi Manzi, I've been thinking of doing an entire post on Vachon's work. He's one of my favorites, too. I agree, the color photos are interesting in their own way, but black and white has stolen my heart.
ReplyDeleteCorinthians has always called to me, too. I read this just now and then re-read it, since it's been years. Decades, even, since those words entered my heart. They have never left.
ReplyDeleteI remember the first time I tasted water in a clear, cold stream. It is also within my memory and heart and I will never forget it. Thank you for the reminders, Teresa.
Hi DJan, It's one of those passages that, once it enters our ken, it doesn't seem to leave. It's good to have these reminders. As for that cold drink of water, it too is very memorable. Thank you for your thoughts around these things.
ReplyDeleteSing it Sister! The truth is the truth no matter what language it is in.
ReplyDeleteps. Will you email me? I can't get your's to work.
Ah, I see you approve comments. I want you to have a link..
ReplyDeletewww.drdavehouseoffun.com. This is the link I was looking at the 30's pictures. There is a lot of info and cool stuff there. Enjoy! It is a great resource. my email is
Michael@rv0777.com thanks T
Hi Michael. An email has been sent. I went with approval after receiving a few angry comments last year from someone who remained "anonymous." If someone doesn't have the cajones to state their name, but hides behind anonymous while spewing their venom, well, they don't deserve air time.
ReplyDeleteBut, hey, Thanks for the link! :)
I was a preacher's kid and left like a bat outta hell at 18 to never go to church ever again and rejected much of my teachings.
ReplyDeleteI tried several times to revisit the Bible and various religions ... no go.
But reading this ... really brought some memories back. The Bible can be a comfort ... very nice to read this.
My grandparents had a farm with the pump handle ... the taste from that on a hot summer day ... hands clasped while someone pumped ... the water sweetening the surrounding dirt/sand... great smells ... nothing like cold well water.
Your blog seems to always invoke much thought ...
I like coming here ... a lot! ;)
Hi Carolyn, There are many passages that I find valuable, both comforting and inspiring. I'm glad this brought memories back, good ones, I hope.
ReplyDeleteThat cold water evokes some fine memories, doesn't it?
I'm glad you like coming here. I always appreciate your "visits." Thank you.
Charity is integrally linked to both faith and hope. Can't imagine one without the other two. Therefore I rank them all the same.
ReplyDeleteLoved the image of you pumping water as a kid.
Oh my gosh, there must be fire in the sky! I also was reading the Bible last night, off into Psalms. Only thing is I hadn't read the Bible for over 40 years.
ReplyDeleteThese are some good verses here Teresa and I love the photo of the little girl at the well.
I went to my big dictionary to look up charity and the first listing is "benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity". Yes, the most important of these is charity. :)
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing like the cool, cold, clear taste of fresh spring or well water. Water is often something we manage to take for granted.
Love the photo!! :):)
Can't say as I've put away my childish things and at this late date I doubt I ever will; I'm glad of a cool drink of water now and then though.
ReplyDeleteLove is patient... love is kind.. I put these words to music in another life when I was young and faith was sure. Today I can about taste the cool water from the well in your words. Mindfulness .
ReplyDeleteWild Bill, Charity does certainly include the other two, doesn't it? I like your ranking. I sometimes imagine that little girl that was me and it seems like a movie I watched some time ago. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteRubye Jack, Psalms is poetry and I have some favorites there, too. I love that we were both called there. Fire in the sky! Love it.
ReplyDeleteRita, I love going to the dictionary, the one that I can hold in my hands, and look up words. I often find clarity in the definitions listed, and sometimes a whole new slant to a word/idea.
ReplyDeleteWater - we seem to be needing more and more of it, along with everything else. 7 billion people on this little round marble is a lot of people.
Thanks, Rita.
Linda, I don't think the writer is referring to being childlike. As a matter of fact, in several places the Bible refers to our need to become childlike, pure in thought and action, looking at the world with amazement and wonder. Childish things is, I believe, referring more to childish attitudes and small thinking, the egocentric way a child views the world before they mature and see things from a wider perspective.
ReplyDeleteJoan, Yes, mindfulness is so essential, staying present to the wonder of each day, each moment. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteTeresa,
ReplyDeleteI read your comment on Dee's blog and I hope you keep writing your blog. It's so inspirational for so many people. I truly know what Dee is talking about because mine, too, has grown out of hand and I can't give personal attention to my followers. I get so far behind that I've even have bad dreams from it. I recently dreamed my company was at the door for Thanksgiving dinner and I was still in my P.J's, hadn't put the turkey in and no food prepared.
I had wanted to mention B/W photography. When digital pushed it's way into my life, I got rid of my well-supplied dark room for B/W. I have bins of books on photographers and the physical part of establishing a dark room. I will look forward to your post on Vachon. I have at least one of his books. Good Stuff.
Manzanita, I am so touched by your kindness. I am learning to have more balance. It's slowly taking hold. I love writing and sharing the ideas that come to me. I can't imagine life without it now, and that in itself may be a problem. But, we will see....
ReplyDeleteI can relate to your anxiety dream....
I once wanted a darkroom for B and W so bad. Now, with digital, it seems unnecessary. I'm so enjoying looking through Vachon's photos online. I wish they were here, right in front of me, to hold.
Thank you, Manzanita.
The Bible is such a Rich,Dark & (often to me)Paradoxical Text It's Sad That Christian Fundamentalists Think It A Merely Simple Tea Party.
ReplyDeleteTony, A good description! Thank you for that, and yes, the paradoxes can be difficult, but there is also such poetry, particularly in the traditional King James version, which I prefer. It is too bad that so many have hijacked it for their own sad and nefarious purposes.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great memory, a job, to gather the water.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary, for that thought.
ReplyDeleteI like the way charity is described in this passage...kind, not puffed up or self seeking.
ReplyDeleteThe photo is so nostalgic. We never had a well or pump growing up...lived in the city. Now we have well water and I can't get used to the taste : )
Hi LadyCat, It seems altruism is hard to come by, the kind you described and as described in this passage.
ReplyDeleteWhen I drink water from a bottle or filtered water, it seems to be missing the taste, as though it might quench thirst, but all those minerals are missing. Of course, a healthy source is essential.
A beautiful, evocative photograph and possibly my favourite piece in all the bible - I read it and think how fortunate we are to have this language as part of our heritage and our way of being. I've been working on a story about a woman in prison and in it she reads this piece from Corinthians aloud in the prison chapel. I don't quote it directly in the story but this make sme think I should.
ReplyDeleteHi Avril, When I post things, sometimes I'm not sure why I feel led to do so, and then in the comments some clarification is given. This might be one of those times. In the future,and we hope your work will continue long into that future, people might not be as familiar with this passage and I think written out it has an impact.
ReplyDeleteThanks for responding.
Truly one of the most beautiful affirmations ever written. Paul did himself proud. Some time back I put "Love is a Verb" on a t'shirt and sold it in the community for charitable causes. The scripture "God is love." inspired my creation as I have always known that love, in its purest form, denotes positive, nurturing action. The water dipper has been a topic of conversation many times between my family members.
ReplyDeleteHi Cletis, I recently made a comment somewhere to that effect, that Love is an action verb. People tend to bandy it about without understanding that.
ReplyDeleteI still sometimes use my metal measuring cup to drink water from, just to remember....
No, I don't want to put away childish things.
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't. It is good to retain a little of childish innocence and trust.
Charity? absolutely! Without charity life is a desert.
Friko, I completely agree with you. You might want to read my response to Linda Starr's comment.
ReplyDelete