Picking Flowers

Just a Thought

One of my son’s favorite activities is picking flowers. When we walk, he will stop mid-step to pluck a flower. This can become tedious because generally if we’re walking, we have someplace to go, but no matter how far he walks, he will pause everything to pick a flower. There are times when I get frustrated because you just picked a flower two steps ago. What is so special about this flower.
Sometimes in life, we get so busy. We get caught up in trying to get so much done. Many of us feel so busy that we don’t have time for anything. We have work, school, doctor’s appointments, activities for the kids, and other family responsibilities; they keep us going back and forth. We get so busy we need more time to do the things that we want to do.
There is a story in Mark 10 where Jesus is traveling to Jerusalem. He was on his way to the cross. He was almost to Jerusalem, and something happened as he stopped in Jericho. A blind man by the name of Bartimaeus heard the commotion. He heard that Jesus was a part of the crowd, and he began shouting for Jesus. He calls to Jesus and tells him to have mercy on him. He isn’t quiet about his calling, so much so that he is said by others to be quiet, but instead of being silent, he shouts even louder. It works, and Jesus calls him over to him and, after some questioning, gives him his sight.
Bartimaeus is like many of us; we have something going on that is holding us back. For Bartimaeus, it was his sight. Not being able to see in first-century Palestine was a big deal. He could not work. He had to earn a living through begging, and people would have judged him or his parents for his condition. Bartimaeus knew that his life would change if he could get Jesus’ attention. He knew that Jesus was his best chance at change.
I wonder how often people cry out to us, if not verbally, then nonverbally, that they need help. That something is going on in their lives that need to be changed. Are we like the people in the crowd that yell and tell people to be quiet and not bother Jesus? We can do this with our actions by claiming to love Christ but not being willing to love his people. Are we willing to take the time from our busy lives to speak to the people other folks walk past?
I often get frustrated with my son because I am so hurried to get from one place to the next. His stopping and struggling to pluck every flower can be annoying, but maybe God is using him to teach me a lesson. There are human flowers that need my attention, and I cannot let the world’s business keep me from the things that ultimately matter. Matthew 25:40 The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'” Are our schedules that busy, or are we unwilling to take the time to see the flowers? Just a Thought.