“How are you?”
The question crosses our lips or pushes into our ears over and over again. And most often the reply swirls around some variation of… “I’m busy…”
Busy. Rushed. Maybe even squashed and breathless and frantic…
Have you been there? Are you there? Are the people around you there?
As always, the life of Jesus has something to say, to show and to model in this space. From start to finish, the ministry life of Jesus was three years long. Less than a Presidential term in office. Three years.
Did Jesus ever seem panicked to you?
Was He checking His watch, or His calendar? Did He ever answer a question with, “I’m busy?”
Seems to me that I should learn something from this. The Son of God, on a mission from Heaven. A mission to change the world, through a dozen young followers before His life was taken… and He never panicked.
No, in fact He teaches us the value and power of lingering. Of bending our schedule in the direction of spontaneous opportunity.
Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. (John 4:39–40, ESV)
Two days. Two unscheduled days… Two important days, and not just in the lives of the Samaritans in Sychar, but in the guidance those two days provide us.
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. (Luke 24:28–29, ESV)
In the small collection of days between His resurrection and His ascension, He had time to stay… to linger. To invest. To highlight what was most important.
Urgent, but never rushed.
On mission, but never panicked.
Focused and diligent, but never a bully.
I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:29)
Rest. In the storm. During the pain. Through the chaos.
“How are you?”
Jesus shows us the way. He always does. Through the conflicting priorities. In the middle of the mess. A peace and calm that impacts more than seaside storms.
In just three years. Loving. Lingering. And never rushed.
“Follow me…” Follow Him.
Jesus.
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