Look into the cave where the dancing is

The past few days I have been tired. This is understandable adapting to a new rhythm of life. Arising before dawn and returning just as the sun breaks through the cloudless sky. Some mornings I find myself laying down getting another hour of sleep before starting on teaching. Other days though, I find myself sitting at the table listening, greeting and sending off and rather simply been present to those around me.

The past few days I have been reflecting on the dance of love. Starting from a place of knowing love to give love, then slowly reflecting on the journey where love has taken me. For me, I believe we are created for community and love shows the way to connect with others who are walking in the shadow of the cross. 

No surprises that I turn to Jesus for example. Jesus gave the gift of his presence. Our presence has the potential to bring healing and peace to those around us. What a thought! Giving people our full attention is worth turning off the phone and releasing the to-do list. 

Its not a modern issue though as I think I have expressed before; distractions were inherent in Jesus ministry. Matthew 9 gives an example of Jesus’s typical day. While in the middle of a discussion about his identity with the disciples, Jairus, a local ruler, cut in and asked Jesus to heal his sick daughter. 

On his way to Jairus house he was interrupted again by a sick women touching his hem. He stopped and spoke to her “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well” 

After healing the woman, Jesus went to Jairus’s house where he took the dead girls hand and told her to awake. Leaving the house two blind men followed him and asked for healing. Instead of offering them healing on the spot, he went to their home. Next a demon possessed muted man came to him. Jesus cast the demon out. 

Wait, thats not all - And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of healing every disease and every affliction” 

That is a total of five encounters of distractions in one day and these are the ones recorded! In each situation Jesus was fully present with the people in front of him. He made eye contact and he listened to them, he journeyed with them, and he met their needs. The gift of his presence brought healing and peace. 

I read the other day this small story - 

“ I once heard a story about a small group of leaders who went searching for the Cave of Wisdom. Legend foretold them this place provided marvellous knowledge and guidance for those who located it. The explorers set out with hope of retrieving this perception and direction for their lives and for the people they served. The journey took a considerable amount of steady traveling, getting lost in the dark, asking directions, and plotting their way. The seekers traveled through all sorts of weather, stumbling at times along difficult terrain, but determined to find this treasure site. 

Finally, their long sought goal came into view. They breathed a sign of joy as they arrived at the Cave of Wisdom, where they found a friendly guard at its entrance. The guard welcome them heartily and invited them forward. But the leaders hesitated. They turned to converse among themselves. Then they replied to the guard, “Thank you, but we have no time for exploration. We just want to say we’ve been here.” Having said this, they turned around and headed back to where they began.” 

Sơn động district

It is a great gift to walk through milestones and life seasons with people we know, but once in a while, circumstances throw strangers together. Even a brief encounter may be what God uses to sustain a desperate heart at a vulnerable time. Some seemingly chance meetings are invitations presenting an opportunity to follow the example and teachings of Jesus. There is so much to explore, discover and learn if we only enter into the cave - enter into the depth of the moment. This takes a lot of inner strength in moments when you just want to get the task done, move on or in a hurry. This also takes a lot of trust in the moment, in the invitation that is before us; as Sister tells me often, life is in the interrupts. I think Jesus would agree with this full heartily. 

On the very evening that He would later be arrested and interrogated, Jesus cared for His disciples and put their needs first. He washed their feet, taught them, prayed for them, and left them with these words, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. My command is this; Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:9)

As His followers, Jesus asks us to love the people we interact with. Embrace the interruptions and look around us to who we hold our presence with. When we choose to love each other, we walk in our Saviour’s footsteps. This reaching out can be the gateway to joy, wonder and transformation. 

Daily life in the interruptions

*Quoted from Boundless Compassion by Jocye Rupp,