Just a few thoughts on Bartimaeus

Today's reading is Mark 10:46-52.  This is the story of the blind beggar, Bartimaeus.  Jesus heals his blindness and Bartimaeus responds by following Jesus on the way.  I've read and heard this story before so it's not a new one for me.  But two new thoughts occurred to me.  First, Bartimaues is named and identified, not just as a blind beggar, but as the son of Timaeus.  In fact his lineage is noted before his condition.  Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, is how the verse starts.  That strikes me as significant.   It's a specific person, not just one of many anonymous beggars.  I'm not a biblical scholar, but it seems important that this story is about somebody recognizable. The 2nd thing I noticed is that Jesus did not go to Bartimaeus.  In fact the passage says "Jesus stood still."  Bartimaeus had to physically get up and find Jesus.  Once he got to Jesus, Bartimaeus had to specifically request Jesus to restore his sight.  I hadn't noticed that before --that the one in need had to go meet Jesus, Jesus didn't go find him (or her).

What does this mean for me?  God knows me, wife, mother, daughter, sister, teacher, bookkeeper, friend, individual and recognizable.   God knows where I am, physically, spiritually.  God "stands still" or waits for me, ready to give me what I need.  But before that can happen, I have to go and meet God.  I have to ask for healing.  That sounds simple, but it's not.  What do I need healed?

Actually a third thought has occurred to me.  The very last verse says that "Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way."  I think I've always taken this verse as kind of the "lived happily ever after" kind of ending, but I just realized it's not.  It's one of the key points here.  I may be willing to go to God, ask for healing, but I also have to be ready to accept my healing and follow him on the way.  And that's what makes this all so difficult.

Help me God to be willing to meet you.  Help me ask you for healing.  Help me be ready and willing to follow you.  Amen.

Lenten Discipline

I am trying something a little different this year as a Lenten discipline.  I've been reading Unbinding the Gospel by Martha Grace Reese.  There's a group reading it at church, but I can't make the group meetings. But I bought a copy of the book, and touch base with the group.  They try to post questions and insights to our church's online "chat room" at least occasionally, to include others in the conversation.   This book includes a 40 Day Prayer Journal discipline, and that's what I've undertaken for Lent.  I've asked one of the group participants if she'd be a prayer partner with me, but we haven't worked out the details yet.  As another way of helping me I've decided to use this space as a kind of prayer journal, at least occasionally.  I'd love to say that I'll post every day with my insights or questions, but I know that won't happen.  I think I've carved out time daily for directed prayer discipline, but I'm not sure where the posting time will come regularly.  I'm "blessed" today because I'm home sick (for the 2nd day in a row!).  I've got a wicked sore throat and for 3 days I've had a matching headache.  The headache seems to have finally dissipated, but now I have swollen glands.  A doctor's visit may be on the horizon later today.

Today I read Isaiah 40:10-17, 28-31.  This is passage is a hymn of praise to God and reminds the exiled Israelites that God is the Creator of everything, and that God is the source of strength for all who "wait on the Lord."   The verse that resonated the most with me is verse 11:

He will feed his flock like a shepherd;

he will gather the lambs in his arms,

and carry them in his bosom,

and gently lead the mother sheep.

I am not a keeper of sheep, but I am familiar with them (what knitter isn't?).  It's lambing season, and I know that those who have sheep spend long nights and days with their flocks, being ready to help if the ewes have trouble giving birth, keeping track of the lambs as they're born, and making sure that mother and lamb are faring well.  Most of the sheep farmers I'm familiar with have small fields, and during this season keep the pregnant ewes in a fairly small enclosed field with shelter so that they don't wander off and give birth in a well-hidden place.  But I know that in other parts of the world, and in other times, sheep were kept in unenclosed fields and in rocky terrains, and it was easy for them to wander away from the larger flock, and hide to give birth.    This image of God gathering the sheep, carrying them close, and leading the mother sheep is comforting to me, even as a non-shepherd.   God knows me, knows each and every one of us.  We are gathered into God's arms and cared for. A shepherd watches carefully over the flock, provides shelter and protection.  God is our shelter and God will not only watch for us, but will search for us if we are lost.   The question that I'm pondering right now is two-fold:   How is God searching for me, right now?   Why do I keep hiding from God?

Cold Cold Day

Today I had bus duty outside . . . I usually don't mind this assignment but today was brutal. It was -1° and the wind was blowing. I had on a wool sweater under my long wool coat, and the wind just went right through. Fortunately it's a short stint of time, and it's only once a week. In a few more weeks, it should be warmer! My room was cold though most of the day. Usually my classroom is more than toasty (actually it's usually much too warm) but the wind was blowing towards my windows. It was good to get home tonight and turn up the heat!

I'm reading a challenging but fascinating book right now for my Lenten practice. It's called The Last Week, by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. It's day-by-day discussion of Jesus's last week as portrayed in Mark's Gospel. A couple of us at church are reading it and hope to find a time to get together to share our reflections and questions. I've read several of Borg's books before and never fail to be enlightened, nourished, and challenged. This book will not disappoint!