The Woman at the Well: "You Take My Breath Away"

The weekend before last, I participated in our annual Deacon's Retreat, at the Palisades Retreat Center. I always find at least a couple of good things at the retreat that make it worth going, and this year's retreat was not only "worth going," it was outstanding. The retreat was given by Deacon Bill Echert and his wife Barbara, and it focused on the "scrutiny gospels" from the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent. Each session was excellent in its own way, but the very first reflection on the Woman at the Well was particularly memorable. Barbara Echert used a combination of imagination, music, and video presentations to really engage us.

In particular, I'd like to recommend this song, which I had never heard before. It's sung by a woman in love, about the one she loves ... and it helped us really appreciate the effect that Jesus had on the Samaritan woman at the well. As perhaps he should on us as well? You decide.

The lyrics are below, with the music.



Sometimes it amazes me
How strong the power of love can be
Sometimes you just take my breath away

You watch my love grow like a child
Sometimes gentle and sometimes wild
Sometimes you just take my breath away

And it's too good to slip by
Too good to lose
Too good to be there
Just to use
I'm gonna stand on a mountain top
And tell the news
That you take my breath away

Sometimes it amazes me
How strong the power of love can be
Sometimes you just take my breath away

Your beauty is there in all I see
And when I feel your eyes on me
Oh don't you know you just take my breath away

And it's too good to slip by
Too good to lose
Too good to be there
Just to use
I'm gonna stand on a mountain top
And tell the news
That you take my breath away

And it's too good to slip by
Too good to lose
Too good to be there
Just to use
I'm gonna stand on a mountain top
And tell the news
That you take my breath away