Sep
27
2014
Poking The Heart
Posted in Daily Living 2 Comments
I watched the short video.
I was not really expecting much as I clicked the play arrow.
Three preschool age children were in a discussion about the weather.
I was captivated.
Two little girls were adamant that it was raining outside.
One little boy was absolutely positive that it was just sprinkling.
They went back and forth; no one backing down.
They kept pointing to a window beyond our view to prove their position.
The discussion became a preschool argument.
At an impasse they knew was not breach-able, the boy upped the ante a bit.
My Mommy told me it is sprinkling.
Not to be out done, the little girls returned in kind, Well my Mommy told me it’s raining.
I found myself totally engaged in what was transpiring.
I was watching the future of peace talks and negotiations before my eyes.
One of the little girls inadvertently poked the little boy near his eye.
Ouch, he said to no one in particular and resumed his argument.
It went on, a bit painfully, I admit.
The adult in charge was obviously filming and not intervening.
I was suddenly glad about that.
The accidental poke became a seemingly purposeful poke, right on the little boys chest.
The little boy winced and put his hand on his chest.
You poked my heart, he said with all the tenderness one little boy could muster.
He said it again with soulful eyes.
You poked my heart.
It actually brought tears to my eyes.
Raining or sprinkling did not seem to matter.
They could not reach a resolution.
Up-ping the ante, and bringing their Mommy into it, did nothing to end the disagreement.
You poked my heart certainly did.
One of the little girls, who was more of a spectator through the entire incident, looked sad.
She reached out her hand and with compassion touched the hurting heart.
She kept her hand over his hand, repeating You, OK? You, OK?
It was a touching, innocent moment.
The adult world could learn volumes from this encounter.
One could learn how to disagree and just how unsuccessful up-ping the ante really is.
Most importantly, one could learn how to show genuine compassion.
You poked my heart.
Isn’t that ultimately true when we consider the effects of an argument?
Isn’t it true that most impasses are not breach-able?
Someone has to compromise.
Sometimes, with respect, there must simply be an agreement to disagree.
I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. (Philippians 4:2,3)
In the early church, women were influential in the work of the gospel.
Though they did not hold offices, they worked alongside Paul and his co-workers.
Apparently some sort of disagreement arose between Euodia and Syntyche.
Because Paul put this exhortation at the end of his letter, it was not moral or theological.
We don’t know what the disagreement was about, but Paul wanted it addressed.
He wanted others to help these women reach an agreement.
They contended at his side for the cause of the Gospel.
They were believers whose names are in the book of life.
Paul knows best how much a disagreement pokes a heart.
Paul was traveling on the road to Damascus when a bright light flashed around him.
As he was on his way to persecute Christians, Paul was met by the Lord Jesus.
And then the question, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?
It was actually the Lord Jesus that Paul was persecuting.
It was actually the Lord Jesus that Paul was hurting.
It was actually the Lord Jesus who felt the pain.
It was actually the Lord Jesus’ heart that was being poked.
That is no little thing.
Hurting others hurts Jesus.
It is Jesus’ heart we are poking.
That ups the ante quite a bit.
…I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me…I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me. (Matthew 25:40,45)
Poking the heart of another is no small thing.
Poking the heart of another is really poking the heart of Jesus.
Consider that.
Talk about “out of the mouth of babes”! What a lesson for all of us We are all God’s children, created by Him, and when we hurt He hurts too. Imagine a world where we all got along–no wars, anger, unkindness. As Christians, we will live in such a world, and it will be called ‘heaven’.
Amen!