July 11, 2020
And a large crowd from the town was with [the widow.] When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
Luke 7:12b-13
Do you ever find yourself multi-tasking when you know you shouldn’t? Like talking on the phone and checking your email at the same time? Or maybe even talking to someone in person yet feeling your mind wander to the next task on your to-do list?
One thing that’s clear from the gospel stories is that Jesus was NOT a multi-tasker. His awareness was acute–he noticed everything and everyone. Passing through Jericho he saw a small man named Zacchaeus up in a tree. He stopped everything, looked up at him, focusing intensely I’m sure, and told Zacchaeus to come down so Jesus could eat with him at his house that day. (Luke 19:1-10) Then there’s the story of an ill woman who touched just the edge of Jesus’ cloak believing she would be healed. Jesus could feel immediately that someone had touched him. Again he stopped everything around him to look at her and speak to her: “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:43-48)
Jesus set a great example of valuing the present moment and the person who was present before him, one way he showed great compassion and love for people. It’s something I can practice every day, a simple way I can show the love and compassion of Jesus to others.
Gina Bridgeman