From the beginning, Idlewild was envisioned as more than just a piece of land; it was intended as a peaceful space where creatives could find healing, encouragment, and a nurturing community to help equip them for the work God has called them to do. The fulfillment of this vision has unfolded in its own unique way, on God's timeline.
To stay close to God and His direction, I regularly walk the property, praying and seeking guidance. One morning, as I was walking, praying, and contemplating, I sensed that a particular spot near the garden would be an ideal place to dedicate for prayer and gathering.
As I stood in this spot, I recalled a promise God had spoken to my heart, and through others: that Idlewild would be a place where people could find healing and drink from a well of Living Water. I prayed for God to help me understand how to bring this about.
I felt inspired to mark this symbolic well in a simple way, with whatever I could find around the property. An old wooden palette and the frame of a swing fit the purpose perfectly. It wasn’t anything elaborate, nor did it really resemble a well, but it was a way to set this area apart and acknowledge its spiritual significance.
A few days later, a memory surfaced—a recollection of an actual well on our property, buried deep within the brush in that very area! It had been hidden, forgotten, and long inoperable. Armed with a machete, I set out to uncover it. I was able to clear enough brush to reveal part of the well, but it was too deep in to fully uncover on my own. And yet, there it was—the very well I had prayed for, right in front of the spot where I had been praying all along.
The following morning, after carving out that small opening the previous day, I went to sit on the palette and pray toward the well, earlier than ever—at 5:30 am. I had come this far, but I wanted to seek God to find out whether I was simply imagining it all or if it was true and he had further steps for me to take.
As I was sitting there, I noticed the rising sun casting an amber/golden light on the brush in front of the well, including the area that I had cut out. This moment intrigued me so much that I walked closer to take a closer look and capture a photo. As I turned around, I saw the sun shining beautifully through the swing frame, and then, in another turn, I noticed the moon hanging in the morning sky. It was as if the heavens were aligning to highlight the significance of this place. I felt a renewed confirmation from God that I was on the right path.
With the brush still surrounding the well, I asked the lawnmower men to help clear it away. When they finished, the well stood open and revealed itself—a symbol of God’s provision and promise for Idlewild. We are now exploring the possibility of getting the well operational again, hopeful that it will become a source of both physical and spiritual refreshment.
During this time, my dear friend Amy-Lynn brought a group of friends to Idlewild for a gathering. After I shared my story with her, she agreed it would be a wonderful opportunity to share the experience with the ladies she had invited. Each woman wrote a prayer on a rock and laid it by the well. We prayed for each other, for Idlewild, and for God to pour forth His Living Waters.
As we continue to work on beautifying the area around the well, I invite you to be a part of this journey. Come to Idlewild, bring a rock, and add your prayer to those alongside others placed by the well.
Merciful God, good Lord, I wish that you would unite me to that fountain, that there I may drink of the living spring of the water of life with those others who thirst after you. There in that heavenly region may I ever dwell, delighted with abundant sweetness, and say, “How sweet is the fountain of living water which never fails, the water welling up to eternal life.” O God, you are yourself that fountain ever and again to be desired ever and ever and again to be consumed. Lord Christ, always give us this water to be for us the “source of the living water which wells up to eternal life.”
Columbanus (543-615 AD)
If you enjoyed this story check out Part 2: The Hidden Well and Buried Treasures
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