Saturday

It is Saturday morning after a Friday night.

I drove through the streets of the city alone last night. I looked at lights, at people, at cars and at buildings. I appreciate cities.  I remember a text in the Scripture that recounts how Jesus looked at the city and was moved with compassion. In fact, Matthew, one of Jesus’ close followers penned these words to describe Jesus’ activity, passion, compassion and future vision…

Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. “What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!”

As I drive through the city I watch and wonder about the people. I wonder what my life will mean in reflection of the human condition.  People tell me all the time, because of my position, what a great thing I do.  Well, as I look at, it is outside my position that matters most.  How do I do there?  I was having a conversation earlier today with a friend and they asked this question, “Aren’t we alive to touch people and show love?”  Yes, is the answer.  We are alive to touch people and show love.

How can I love driving through the city?  For me it is similar to Jesus’ love.  Those I connect with, I touch.  I touch them with a message – God wants to rule in your life by love.  I touch them with comfort.  The word disease tells me that the people around me are at dis-ease.  Some of their dis-ease is physical, some is emotional, some is relational and some is spiritual.  I am to heal disease. I have that capacity…it is the capacity to replace the dis-ease with comfort.  Some have bruised and hurt lives. Circumstances, influences, decisions, people, other factors, have conditioned them to a way of life that is cautious, protective, fearful, isolated and alone. For those I must bring whatever is necessary for wholness – spirit, soul and body.

Sometimes I feel selfish; I feel like a failure; I feel overwhelmed.  It is in those times that I take the next step in making a difference – I ask for help!  Not from around me, but from above.  I also realize that I am not only a pray-er of that prayer, but I am the answer to that prayer.  As someone else is praying for help, I am praying for help.  I am not alone in this mission.

So, why do I write this?  Because you might just be my help and I might just be yours.  We are potential partners in touching lives, healing hurts, sharing love and making a difference.  We are also smart enough to know we cannot do it alone.

We see the people…confused, aimless, without a leader or anyone to care.  We are moved with compassion, a passion to draw these beautiful, wonderful, creations of God into a community of love, a kingdom of grace and a relationship of care. We are the Jesus in this picture. The Spirit of God inspired the words that said, “You are the body of Christ,” “You have the mind of Christ,” “Heal the sick, raise the dead, freely you have received, freely give.”

Jesus said, “What I do you will do and even greater things will you do.”

So, next time you are alone on a drive, or a walk, look around.  You are not there by accident.  See the need below the surface.  Touch the people behind the doors and windows. Pray for help.

It’s Saturday…go for a drive.