Make your bed

 

Acts 9:32-35

Admittedly, I should've waited longer to lead worship again after my transplant. Many of you were too nice to say it, but the videos prove it. I always struggle deciding where to put the line between persistence and stubbornness. I'm hopeful you can be faithful in both. Still, part of my healing was having agency again. Being able to do what I once did. That isn't always possible, of course. But in our helping and encouragement of others, don't we want people to have their lives back as much as they can? In Acts 9, Peter finds himself in Lydda. Some commentators suggest he has committed to searching for people in need as he travels. Whether that's accurate or not, in Lydda, Peter came across a man with a great need. Aeneas was his name, and for eight years his condition limited his life to his bed. When Peter saw him, he told him that Jesus healed him. Then he told him to make his bed. Such a simple thing to do. It takes me two minutes. I can't imagine it would've been any more difficult in the ancient world. Maybe it took Aaneas a little bit longer that first time. But in his healing, Peter gave Aeneas control of his life. Get up and begin taking your life back with a simple task. We want to help people as much as we can. That's a sure sign of being human. But even in our compassion, we must be mindful not to take away what people need to reclaim: their agency. The hymn reminds us that "they'll know we are Christians by our love, " and part of that love is our promise to "guard each one's dignity." Agency is dignity. So, wherever you find yourself doing God's healing work, let your help be a pathway, not a barrier, to the life God desires for others. Stay blessed...john