In times and circumstances like these, when faced with crises of monumental and existential proportions we tend to focus inwards on self-preservation to the almost total exclusion of thinking about others. But as Christians we need to have a different approach – to take the road less travelled. Taking this road is not easy, as the late M Scott Peck noted in the first sentence of his best seller The Road Less Travelled: “Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths.” He went on to write that accepting this reality somehow makes life easier. Is there any helpful principle that we as Christians can learn from this observation? How willing are we to accept the realities that we face and then proceed to make a difference? Rather than hiding in our self-made bubbles of fear and apprehension, how can we emerge to engage and interact with others who desperately need our support? What about Jesus’ mandate to us in John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another”? Can this assist us in these troubling times?
Jesus came to show us the way to relate to others, if only we would choose to see, accept and practice. His methods are certain to produce the desired results as he had a consistent and intentional modus operandi bequeathed to us as The Jesus Prescription:
- He saw, felt or heard
- He engaged
- He made a difference through his intervention
How can we put The Jesus Prescription into practice? If we really want to, we can choose to do the following:
We choose to see, hear or feel
We can choose to be sensitive to the needs around us by our deliberate decision to see, hear of feel their pain or needs in their faces, voices or expressions. Looking away will not be an option, deciding not to see or hear will never be contemplated, and pretending that the reality does not exist would become an unaffordable luxury.
During this difficult and challenging time there are many persons who are just longing to hear a voice, to receive a gift, to know that someone cares. Reaching out to others is not that difficult if we are as intentional as Jesus was.
We choose to engage
Becoming sensitive to the needs of others is the first step in understanding compassion but will not in itself make a difference unless taken further. Reflecting on The Jesus Prescription, we see him taking action – touching the eyes of the blind, speaking words of comfort to the bereaved, reaching out to the wrongly accused, defending the rights of the dispossessed, reclaiming life and offering hope to the suffering. We can replicate Jesus’ methods during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are a few suggestions:
- We can organize and deliver gift packages with food and other necessities to those with this kind of need.
- We can arrange regular phone calls to persons who are locked in and are lonely.
- We can send text messages with encouraging notes and we can visit where possible and organize zoom or virtual services that will encourage the participation of others.
- We are to remember those persons who have lost their jobs or their means of earning a living and be generous towards them.
- We can donate laptops and tablets and WIFI access to children and young people who are disadvantaged by their inability to access virtual classes.
I know it’s convenient and comfortable to reach out to those we hold dear as friends and family, but you need to enlarge your circle to include those who are in need.
We make a difference by the quality of our intervention
We are careful to note that Jesus was not only interested in the physical wellbeing of those he helped – he was also interested in providing spiritual and psychological bolstering. And so must we – our efforts must not be dry and lacking in true compassion. We must not act out of a sense of legalistic obligation and treat others without regard to their dignity and we need to show respect to their own humanity. We must act out of a deep sense of love.
It is easy to gain recognition by publicizing our generosity; we see this happening every day in the corporate world, but we should be different. We must act from a spirit of disinterested benevolence – acting in the best interest of our fellow men and allowing the praise and adulation to go to God.
As Lao Tzu noted, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”, we need to begin the urgent and necessary work of caring now. We must not be discouraged by the enormity of the task or the fact that others are inactive, as we remember that Jesus has given us a practical and workable blueprint and the strength to implement his vision.