When I was eight I had open heart surgery. I had it during the summertime so that I wouldn't miss any school. It's a horrible time to keep a kid cooped up in the hospital. But there were a few bright spots amid my self-pity.
Her name was Cecilia and she had leukemia. She was just a couple of doors down from me and the hospital had a central playroom for kids to go to when they were feeling up to it. The playroom became my favorite place to go. It wasn't all that big and it only had one window to look out at and most of the toys were made for younger kids, but that didn't stop us from having fun.
Someone had brought me a board game called "Chutes Away." It wasn't your typical board game like "Clue" or "Monopoly." It was more along the lines of "Mousetrap." A round board with holes would circle. Above it was an arm and on the arm was a series of plastic parachutes. You would look down the bomber sights and drop a parachute into one of the holes.
It was awesome. Cecilia and I played for hours and hours at a time. We'd each take turns to see how many we could get into the holes. When either of us didn't feel like going to the playroom, the nurses allowed us to go into each other's rooms. We didn't talk much, because we didn't need to.
We just needed someone to play with.
When I got out, I saw Cecilia once when her mom brought her to my house. They just lived a couple of towns over. Of course, we broke out the old Chutes Away game. But after that I didn't see her again.
But my time spent looking out at the summer sun while all the other kids were playing taught me something. We all need someone to play with.
Even as adults.
We all need someone that we can spend hours and hours with and not say a word. Someone to laugh at the silliest of things. Someone to help us through the roughest of times.
And it also taught me that people who are hurting and in pain don't want your pity. They want your fellowship. And I think that's what God wants us to do as well. When you look at the Biblical story, time and again from Job to Jesus we see people who are hurting. And we see others who don't know how to respond. Job's friends tried to blame him. Jesus' disciples were ashamed for their actions. But in the end, all things were made right with fellowship.
God doesn't want you to wallow in your own self-pity. We're told to take up our mats. Jesus didn't die so that we could tsk, tsk at others who are suffering. He touched the lepers. And for those we know who are hurting, the last thing they want to hear is, "It's God's will." Instead maybe they will know your love by the casserole you bring.
God knows our hearts and what we're really thinking about and I firmly believe that the last thing God wants to see from us is pity. And the first thing God wants us to do is offer fellowship.
Let us pray.
God of All Things. Sometimes we're not sure how to react when we see others hurting and in pain. Our first reaction is to offer pity. But we pray that instead you will change our hearts and let us be friends to the least among us, for that is how Jesus taught us to live. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
The blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ be upon you.
PASTOR TROY CONRAD IS MINISTER OF THE FARMINGTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. EMAIL: [email protected]. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR.
Religion on 02/08/2017