Birds are expert harvesters.  They make it their business to know where fruit is growing and they keep a watchful eye as it ripens. In July I caught sight of a catbird darting around the bushes by my house. I peered through the window and spied small berries in various stages of maturity (green, red and deep burgundy) hidden between the branches of a bush. If not for the bird, I would have missed seeing the abundant crop of fruit ripening in my own front yard. I began looking more closely at other plants in my neighborhood and discovered even more hidden fruit. It was everywhere. Last week I wrote about how Jesus urged his disciples to take a closer look at what they weren't seeing around them in the Samaritan town of Sychar:"...I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields!  They are ripe for harvest."  (John 4:35) Jesus was talking about a spiritual harvest of people who were ready to believe in him as their Savior. What made this so hard for the disciples to see? Geographically the Samaritans and these Jewish followers of Jesus were neighbors (John 4:3-5), but ethnic and religious differences kept the two groups from being neighborly with one another. It's really hard to recognize ripeness in fruit you know little about and can't get close to. In that sense, the Samaritans were hidden from the disciples' view (like the berries on my bush). All of that changed when Jesus stopped them by an old well near Sychar to rest and buy food. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus asked her for a drink. This got her attention as Jews didn't share cups with Samaritans (because they thought it would make them unclean). Jesus' simple request signaled his openness to associating with the woman, and I think he knew that this would not only get him a cup of refreshing water but also lead to an engaging conversation. And it did! Their conversation - touching upon their ethnic and gender differences, her endless thirst and the eternal quenching he had to offer her, his knowledge of her broken relationships, her desire for spiritual clarity, her hope (and we might assume longing) for a savior - were surprisingly and amazingly deep for two people who just met! The things they talked about revealed the woman's spiritual "ripeness", her readiness to believe in Jesus (let's look more closely at that next week).  And as she shared her testimony about him with everyone around her, a whole community of people ready to welcome Jesus and his disciples closer in was also revealed! Jesus and his disciples stayed with their (now familiar) Samaritan neighbors in Sychar for 2 days. Imagine the conversations they engaged in! I'm guessing after this, as they continued their journey, the disciples were better able to recognize other people who were ready to hear the good news that God loves them and sent Jesus to save them. Their stay in Sychar also prepared the disciples for that time when Jesus would send them out in mission for him (Luke 9:1-6). What about you and me?  Where are we in our journey with Jesus? Do we think of ourselves as modern-day disciples, following where Jesus leads and learning from him? Are we ready for him to 'send us out' by bringing us closer in?  The conversations we have can reveal the redemptive work that Jesus is doing in people. How is he preparing them to welcome us into their lives and communities?