Privileged

Have you ever cut in line or been in a line so long and moving so slow that you were tempted to push your way to the front? Maybe you have been in the emergency room and knew your case was much more urgent than those around you? I’m sure we can all relate to this feeling of urgency and desperation.

“They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.  Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.  Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.'” Mark 2:4

 

I am amazed by the friendship of the people who took the time and spent the effort necessary to carry their dear friend to the foot of Jesus.  They carried him, who knows how far.  Arriving to where Jesus was, they found such a large crowd that they couldn’t get in to see him. Some would give up here, but they pressed on.  These men climbed the house that Jesus was in and hoisted their friend up to the roof.  Then, they cut a hole big enough to lower him through.  After all of this, they lowered him down to Jesus.  They essentially cut in line because of the desperation they felt on behalf of their friend. Their friend was sick, and hurting.  Not only physically; but also emotionally. A person with this great of a disability not only feels the physical frustration, but is emotionally spent and drained and depressed. They saw his great need. They felt for him. Unable to do anything to physically fix his body, they did the only thing they could do.  They carried him to the foot of the Healer.  Anyway they could.  It was all up to Him.    

My heart relates to the friends in this story.

I have seen friends hurt; and I hurt for them. 

I have seen loved ones ill and have been unable to do anything for  them.  

I have known the desperation of having a large gap between where the front of the

line is, and felt like I am at the end of the line.

Why is it that we think to pray after everything else has been tried or we have no other

option?

Why does praying feels like such an idle thing to do to help someone? 

I think of the hymn which states, “ what a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer”.  It is here I am reminded that this is the best thing I can do for a friend.  God is able. When ability and distance separate me from being able to do something tangible, prayer is the most active thing I can do for my friend in need. It is essentially climbing up to the rooftop, cutting a hole and lowering them to the feet of the Healer.   

THAT is a privilege.