July 19

Blind Bartimaeus

          They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside.  When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.”  So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.  Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.”  Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

Mark 10: 46-52

            Over the years I have had the opportunity to talk to several elected officials who were visiting my organizations.  The visits usually came during election years when they were visiting Fairbanks and wanted photo opportunities in places that were doing good work.  There would be the official, a few staff members, several photographers and about ten minutes of conversation in the whirlwind visit.  They had lots of places to go and lots of people to talk to.  The ones who impressed me the most were the ones who slowed down and talked to the clients that we served.  Most of the visits were very clear that they did not have time for Senator X to talk with children or listen to someone in the IDD center.  But on a very few occasions, the Very Important Person was willing to take the time to be interrupted and talk and listen and connect with people who would not vote and had no voice in the rooms of power.  Those times stuck with me.

            Bartimaeus was used to people ignoring him.  He would sit outside of Jericho and mumble a request for money when he heard someone walking past.  Sometimes he heard the clink of coins, mostly he just sat in darkness as people walked by.  One day he heard a large crowd coming his way.  He heard the name Jesus and his heart leapt out of his chest.  The man was a prophet…a teacher…a healer sent by God and this may be the only chance that Bartimaeus would ever have.  He started yelling, hoping that Jesus might be willing to heal him.

            Those around Bartimaeus shushed him.  “Be quiet!”  “You’re embarrassing us!”  “The Master has no time for a nobody like you.”  That just made Bartimaeus yell louder.  He was a nobody, but Jesus could change that with a word.

            Jesus heard Bartimaeus.  He saw Bartimaeus.  He stopped for Bartimaeus and called him over.  Wherever He was going and whatever He was on His way to do could wait.  It was not an impatient and efficient interaction either.  As the blind man is being led to the Teacher, Jesus could easily tell what was wrong and what the man needed.  He could have snapped His fingers, restored Bartimaeus’ sight and moved on without skipping a beat.  Instead Jesus waited for the beggar to make his way over.  He asked questions and listened to the responses.  He took unexpected time out of His schedule to restore Bartimaeus’ body and to get to know the child of God who was standing right in front of Him.

            I love plans.  I love lists.  I love schedules and spreadsheets and itineraries…and I know that a good day has more to do with how well you loved the people that you encountered than how efficiently you accomplished your tasks.  Sometimes loving other people is scheduled as you meet for coffee or a play date or a phone call.  You know going into the day what life with your kids will look like and what kind of love and investment they are going to need.  But sometimes…most times, the people who you have opportunities to love throughout the day are surprises and interruptions.  It is the angry customer on the phone.  It is the employee who is crying in the corner.  It is the frazzled mom at the post office who just needs two more hands.  It is your child who suddenly is in panic mode because the schedule changed a little bit.

            We have the opportunity to blow past all of these as we knock out the tasks of our day.  Or we have the opportunity to stop and listen in an unexpected encounter with another child of God.  Will that make our day run more smoothly?  Of course not.  Will it make our day better as we value people over things and tasks?  Probably.

A moment to reflect:

Be on the lookout for what kinds of possibilities could be available when you are interrupted today.