Humble service...

"If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all...Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me..."
Mark 9:35, 37

Humble service. That is what Jesus is showing the disciples in this passage today. They had been jostling with each other along the way about who was greater. Jesus puts a child in their midst and talks about humble service. I think I'm getting a wee glimpse of both the humble service and welcoming the child in my job as a tutor. It's humbling to be so new, when most of the staff has been at the school for ages. It's humbling to be relatively clueless in classroom education; I previously worked with the visually impaired students individually, out of the classroom, in mobility. It's humbling to have much less decision-making capability through my day...I just do what they need and ask me to do. It's humbling and yet, it's absolutely fabulous! And the reason it's fabulous is because, first and foremost, I am to welcome the child. In Jesus' time, children were not valued at all, so it was quite astounding that he told the disciples children must be welcomed and served. Thankfully, times have changed, but our kids still may feel less-than-valued in their situations and circumstances. Our job is to love them and treat them with kind firmness and compassion. Believe me, there are times I have to dig very deep within to find the patience to give them what they need! But the good thing is that I can dig deep...I know that Jesus-within-me can give me just what I need to welcome the child. It's not a far away God who helps me, but Jesus within me, who doles out just what I need at any moment. Today, as we have finally reached our last February Tuesday (after like 25!) let's realize ALL we need to do what we do is found within our very hearts, where Jesus resides. Love, heidi

I believe! But!

"I believe! Help my unbelief!"
Mark 9:24

I think most of us can relate to this father's cry. Jesus had explained to him, "Everything is possible to one who has faith." And the guy cries one of the most honest prayers ever prayed. If we are honest, too, we'll admit that we have times of doubt. Why wouldn't we when we can look around and see such difficulty and chaos in our world? I think we could call it "reasonable doubt," like in the judicial system. But, as followers of Jesus, once we can settle down and be still for a moment, we can pray this honest prayer, "I believe, help my unbelief!" Jesus understands. In a few weeks we will follow Jesus into the Garden of Gethsemane and hear him pray desperately, If there is any way this cup can pass me by... Our reasonable doubt is understandable, but our healer for that is Jesus, who will sit quietly with us and remind us of all the times we have been gifted and healed throughout our lives. Jesus tells the disciples in the last line of this Gospel, "This kind (spirit) can only come out through prayer" (v. 29). That's a good reminder to us to sit still and let God be God, and let God heal our unbelief. Love, heidi