Across Church Street
Weary and scattered
Those who minister to the weary and scattered can become weary and scattered themselves.
“But when [Jesus] saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”
Most of my adult life I have traveled extensively. I've had literally thousands of opportunities to observe people in airports, on shuttles, in cars, and on sidewalks. People do look so weary. So scattered.
Now I do more listening than watching. Now I hear people's stories and my ears confirm my eyes. People really are weary and scattered.
When Jesus observed this, he told his disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest (Matt. 9:38).
It occurs to me: what if the Lord has already raised up laborers? And what if those laborers have become just as weary and scattered as the multitudes? Where might they be gathered? Where might they be refreshed?
- love
- friendship
- beauty
- thankful
- attunement
- communion
- discipline
- video
- hope
- hania rani
- holiness
- serving
- seth godin
- dean sherman
- across
- covenant
- music
- eternal life
- justice
- embodiment
- wonder
- gracious
- hesed
- welcome
- poetry
- rest
- image
- brokenness
- disruption
- invitation
- companion mode
- resonance
- steadfast
- observer mode
- framework
- pastoral
- oneness
- caritas
- difference
- shalom
- john stott
- worship
- status
- care
I practice the spiritual discipline of rescuing earthworms on paved surfaces. It's a reminder to me that I can pause what I'm doing, get a little dirty, and help. Also, that I've been given the responsibility to care.