Surprising Ways

Sometimes at a business retreat or a personal retreat, the leader tries various exercises to get attendees to free themselves up and think outside the box. This attempt at creativity is meant to have a few purposes: team building; to create new strategies/ideas; and to learn to listen to each other kindly and compassionately.

I always liked those brainstorming/creative sessions. I wasn’t necessarily the most outside-the-box person when it came to ideas. But I loved the gestalt of it all. It was fascinating to me to see the ideas snowball. One of my favorite scenes in the movie Apollo 13 was when Gary Sinese was trying to resolve the problem facing the airborne astronauts and to do so within some severe time constraints. Finally, in total frustration he says to the rest of the scientists “if they don’t have it, I can’t use it”. What did he mean? He meant it would do no good to come up with a solution that the astronauts couldn’t possibly implement.

Where am I going with this? Ah! Yes, my point. …. Remember when some people wanted Jesus to heal their paralyzed friend? Jesus was inside a house with a whole bunch of people. There were tons of people waiting in line outside as well. The friends carrying the paralyzed man climbed up on the roof with him, cut a hole in the roof, and lowered the man down to Jesus for healing; He healed him. There was no doubt in the minds of the friends who had gone through all this. They just KNEW that if they could put their buddy in front of Jesus, that Jesus would heal him.

What complete faith on their part. Their faith made them fearless. Think about it. They climbed up on the roof, carrying or perhaps dragging their buddy. Then they cut a hole in the roof. What about the person that lived there? Scripture doesn’t say what he had to say about it. My guess is that he must have had immense faith in Jesus and thus the normal anger that would have been expressed was diffused.

But what a creative solution. To the friends it was obvious. Are there chances in our lives to do something in a new and creative way? How can we get in touch with God today? Perhaps there are new ways for us to connect with someone that will be in keeping with how Jesus wants us to connect/re-connect today. I pray that I will see Jesus in each person I encounter today, and that I will connect joyfully throughout the day. I am an optimist~I know that with each new way and each new connection and choice, that Jesus welcomes our eagerness. I run joyfully to Him today.

Perhaps I, too can make a hole in my own limitations~ and drop right through my roof into the living room where Jesus awaits~ready to heal. I wish you love today~and Easter joy.