What does it have to do with me?

As I read this weeks lesson, I must confess, I didn't like it.  At least I didn't like it the first couple of times I read it.  Then I prayed "Lord what is there in here for me to see?".  Then I read it again.  There was no epiphany but I did see me in the lesson.  I saw someone looking for hope in difficult times.  I saw someone looking for friendship.  I saw someone dealing with sin and looking for a way out.  So I guess you could say without a doubt, I saw me in the story.

As I thought about Jesus as depicted in this short writing, I wanted to focus in on the single most significant event in His life that I could reach out and hold on to.  It wasn't the storm stories.  It wasn't the miraculous feedings.  It wasn't any of the healing stories.  It is the story of Jairus in Mark 5.  The New Living Translation tells us that Jairus went to Jesus out of desperation:  ... pleading with him to heal his little daughter. "She is about to die," he said in desperation. "Please come and place your hands on her; heal her so she can live."

Somehow (for me at least) everything about living and walking with Jesus is in this story.  This little story runs the gamut of emotions you will face in whatever desperate situation you find yourself.  He's facing the loss of his loved one, Jesus delay's in coming.  The loved one dies and so the emotion of dealing with that knowledge is hammering away at him.  All hope is gone.  He suffers in silence.  Jesus tells him to believe and yet nothing around him provides any hope.  She's dead, the family is wailing and crying in uncontrollable grief.  Then the cynical laughter.  They all laughed at him KNOWING she was dead.  Then the unbelievable Joy of an undeserved gift of grace from God.

I have recently been attending a local 12 step recovery group.  Angel suggested it would be good for me to attend so I can see and hear others stories of struggle and redemption.  I've attended three meetings and I've heard of a wonderful God that is working with people in desperate situations.  People reaching out to God for help and he answers.  I see smiles and struggles.  I see hope and silence.  There have been as many as 35 and as few as 14 that have attended.  I have not spoken, but have listened.  My purpose was to listen and learn, not talk.  So I have listened.  When I reflect on the three meetings I've attended, I can see in the room I'm in the stories written on the pages of this week's lesson.  If Jesus were physically present, He would have been right in the middle of this group and they would have responded to Him with unbridled joy and laughter and He would have enjoyed being there.  He would have looked around the room and those there would have had hope.

Yesterday Julia came home from Krogers and came to tell me of her encounter with "Cheeseburger" and his owner.  She told of seeing him when she came out of Krogers.  She stopped to talk to him and Cheeseburger wagged his tail and came over to her right away.  Julia spoke of how her heart ached for them.  She went inside to purchase some treats to give to Cheeseburger.  When she came out though, he was gone.  She told me with tears in her eyes that she so wanted to find them.  She prayed and asked God to help her find them.  She drove around and did find them.  When she came up with the treats, the man said with a big smile on his face, "Cheeseburger, look what you are getting!"  Of course Cheeseburger was happy and so was Julia.  He asked her to remember them in prayer.  (The owner, not "Cheeseburger")

I saw "Cheeseburger" and his owner in the this weeks lesson.  I saw Julia in this weeks lesson.  I see Andy in this weeks lesson.  I see my need for a heart that is touched by the needs of others.  I saw Jesus in Julia as he reached out to a homeless man and his dog.  I saw Jesus as he wept for them standing in my living room with tears running down his cheeks.

So, what does it have to do with me?  Everything!

Lord:  I pray for "Cheeseburger" and his owner.  Provide for them their needs for today.  Provide for him a warm bed and good hot food for today.  Protect them from evil and send more people like Julia to touch them for you.  Help me to learn of you Lord through those you send in my path.  Forgive me for hardness of heart Lord.  I don't want to be that way!