Not long ago we
heard about a disabled man named Walter who lives in a group home for the
severely physically handicapped. Walter loves to dance. But this is next to
impossible given his condition. And at parties when he has made attempts,
wiggling and shaking, he has been restrained by staff who fear for his safety.
One day the sounds of rock music and loud crashes are heard upstairs in the
residence. The ruckus is traced to Walter’s room. Nurses rush upstairs, knock
frantically, call Walter’s name and finally burst into his room. They see him
twirling around and falling to the floor as the music booms. He is flushed and
sweaty and laughing. As they rush to help him up, he reassures them, “It’s OK,
the falls are part of the dance.”
It is probably
something we all get to learn sooner or later- how to welcome the falling, the
mess and see it as opportunity, perhaps even grace. How wonderful then to
have the Lord Jesus remind us this morning in the Gospel, "Oh, how foolish
you are!" We have forgotten that the falls and seeming disasters are
opportunities for God's intervention. We too often forget that the Lord Jesus,
the Lord of all creation, the promised Messiah had to suffer and
die. "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these
things and enter into his glory?"
Photograph by
Brother Brian.
