My friend Nancy talks about bandwidth – how much physical and mental energy one has to apply toward what enterprise. How strong one is to carry emotional weights. How able to discern relevance. She also talks about missional theology, and news that tells the truth, about the Psalms, and how they allow us to spill our fearful guts. When I think about women in my life from whom I learn how one might make a difference, these attributes come to mind: informed, determined, passionate, ingenious, focused. They are people who ask questions of situations and the status quo. They are my children and my parents; they are their friends and my friends. They are mentors who process through research, through reading, through listening to stories. And from these stories, these women gather nuggets of compassion whenever and wherever they find them.
When Jesus arrived in Gennesaret, the people immediately recognized him, setting off a community reaction – of running to bring the sick. (This astounds me, given our love for committees and task forces, lengthy assessments and decision-making trees). I am wondering, what stories they had heard…what nuggets they had gathered, by which they entrusted their sick to this almost stranger.
Bandwidth
Disembark, hem still damp
wind-scuttled.
IMMEDIATELY…
only yesterday
Jesus and co. navigated to remote space
refuge and rest
bandwidth narrow
Disembark rest
to teach
sheep devoid a shepherd
Disembark the late hour
to serve full banquet – fish and bread
to just 5000 (plus women and children).
Disembark the crowds
to pray.
Alone
Disembark striding the waves
to calm fear
suspend chaos…shepherd with sheep
Disembark the boat
close, but confused company
to heal the masses
relevance – we are sick; not he, she, they
these are our sick
can they come out to play?
we have heard…
this name
of Jesus.
jfig 4/2020
Roasted Words 