At our women’s camp last weekend, I had a terrible back pain attack-the norm but it was the first time it came before midday. I couldn’t sit any longer and ended up crouching on the ground to try to ease the pain. During lunch I went to lie down in the tent, knees bent in at my chest…No relief.
After asking why I was doubled over in pain, a certain lady said to me “Hmm, when I’m sick, I pray and God heals me!”
And it wasn’t the first time she’d said something like that.
So my first thought was “So, are you saying I don’t pray, or that I’m so sinful that my prayers are going unheard because I’m not as holy as you are?”
I kept my thoughts to myself.
There are so many people who are like the disciples. Poor Jesus was trying to tell them that He was about to face the hardest trial ever and instead his ‘closest brethren’ are arguing about who’ll be next in command when he takes over as Ruler. Totally missed the boat. Only caring about themselves and about gaining popularity. They forgot to ask for details, to ask how long He’d known He was about to die. To ask what they could do to ease his burden. To pray for Him..for His dear mother…
Not saying I’d have wanted her to rub my back or spend her time worrying about me. I didn’t even consider others. I was just in extreme pain and didn’t want anything from anyone. But I’m saying that of all the comments to make, that was an unnecessary one to make.
And who knows, maybe I’ve also been insensitive to someone else without realising it. The disciples didn’t purposefully ignore Jesus’ pain. They didn’t plan on being insensitive towards Him. And I assume neither did this woman.
Empathy goes a lot further than negative comparison. Care for others goes further than self-absorption does. Love, empathy… May I learn from others’ mistakes and think before I speak.
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