Behind these blackberries, in this hidden corner of Trefeca,( if you know where to look) is an ancient well for the village. It is no longer in use.
Ancient wells mark the Pilgrim routes of Wales, from St. Non’s Well outside St. David’s to St Beuno’s Well in Clynnog Fawr. Many Welsh towns sprang up around Wells, Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells, Llanwrtyd Wells ( although the latter’s sulphurous well is best not imbibed!) Biblical Wells were the source of disputes for the people of Israel, for example Isaac’s argument with the herders of Gerar (Genesis 26); but more positively, an encounter with Jesus by Jacob’s well in Samaria, brought new life to a woman who had come to draw water.(John 4)
My favourite reference is from Isaiah’s hymn of Thanksgiving “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12 v 3). The deepest, richest, healthiest, “well” to drink from is from Jesus himself – as Jesus said to that Samaritan woman, “those who drink of this water that I will give them, will never thirst again”(John 4 v 14). What a promise! It’s a well that can never run dry, can never be grown over, or closed up, never goes rancid; but Jesus continues to pour out his life-giving water for all those who will come to him and receive it. r
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, the Living Water,
help us draw deeply from the wells of salvation.
Refresh us, when we are weary,
wash us, when sin and wrongdoing silt up our lives
cool us with healing water when we are feverish or troubled.
Help your Church, your people,
re-discover the old wells that our ancestors drank from
the wells of faithful prayer,
and the wells that open up when we really study your word.
And may Trefeca itself, be that “well”
that meeting place, where, like the woman of Samaria,
peoples of all races, all faiths and none
may meet with you Lord Jesus and find new life. Amen