Your Problem, My Problem
When you see someone struggling, how do you help them?
When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by. - Mark 6:47-48
When Jesus saw his disciples struggling against the wind, he went out to them, as I would have expected, but his intention to pass them by bothers me. Why would he not want to join them and be with them in their time of need?
I am reminded of something some were fond of saying in the workplace, "Your Problem is not My Emergency."
That seems harsh and uncaring, but there is another way of looking at this that makes sense of it for me.
Our grandsons play team sports and my wife and I are dedicated fans. While we cannot make every game or meet, when we are there they know it, not so much because we are seen, but because my wife is heard.
She will shout out support from the stands with enough enthusiasm to carry the whole team to victory.
There have been times while watching one of the boys struggling when I thought she would go out onto the field to comfort and support him.
She can't
interrupt the game, but she can make her presence known and be a support from a distance. That is what I believe Jesus intended to do.
His presence calmed the fears and made them see that they could survive.
Maybe that's what our mission is while we are here on this fractured and broken planet, to cheer each other on, to be there when there is trouble, to calm the fears.
We enter into the world of another to make a place of peace, to calm the wind and be still, so they know they are not alone.
What a great ministry, and it is one we can all do, without taking on the burden of making their problem our problem.
So, as we go out into the world intending to pass others by, we will remember the simple act of kindness that calmed the storm and we will be aware that we can be that presence for someone troubled.
That is our purpose.
More to come...