The Saturday Journal: Are You for Real?

She met this lady at her child’s school. They exchanged hellos–oh your daughter is in my child’s class!  And as they talked more–they learned they lived in the same neighborhood–their homes–almost a stone’s throw away from one another.

We should get together sometime–you and your family come over and we can have a cook-out! The kids can play!  What are you doing now, got time to go and get a cup of coffee? the American lady asked.

And the lady, who–not too long ago moved from the West Coast to the East Coast–her home not always in the United States, she looked at this American and said, ‘Are you for real?’ 

The lady–she was confused–and with a light-hearted smile said, 'What do you mean?’ 

‘I mean, are you for real? I’ve never had someone I just met treat me with such kindness–such welcoming’. 

There’s a story in the New Testament–a man with palsy–paralysis–a man who lay on his bed unable to move. (Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26).   And there were these certain called “they” the Bible states.  “They” meaning friends or brothers and sisters of this paralyzed man–the Word doesn’t say who “they” were. 

But whoever “they” were– "they" had great faith in Jesus’ healing. So much so, when they heard Jesus was nearby–they carried their friend to where He was.  And when they got to the house where Jesus was–it was crowded–even the door passage was blocked because of the many people–there to see Jesus.  

No doubt this was not planned–this obstacle.  But there was no giving up in the “they”.  We’ll just take our sick friend or family member up to the roof–make a hole in the roof–lower him down–to Jesus. 

The Bible doesn’t give us even one detail about who came up with this plan–the “they” never were given a voice in the story.  But think about this–if you had been a fly on the wall–when the one of the “they” told the plan to the others–this is what we will do! I can only imagine one of them saying, ‘Are you for real?’

 And the still man lying on the bed–he might have echoed those same sentiments–you’re going to do what? Carry me up to the roof? Lower me down? Are you for real? 

If we can just get you to Jesus–everything will be okay. 

“They” carry him on the roof–the people in the home and Jesus–they hear the commotion on the roof–panels of straw begin to peel away–debris and dust falling on their hair–their faces. 

What is going on?  Are they for real? 

And please know–this is not how the Bible describes the scene.  This is me–again not taking anything away from scripture–or adding to–only imagining the rest of this miracle. This love.  Imagining Jesus’ smile–ever so large–He was seeing love in action.

And so he was lowered down to Jesus and before Jesus healed this man, physically–He took care of his spiritual needs–forgiving him of his sins.

When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. (Mark 2:5) 

I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately, he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. (Mark 2:11-12) 

God is real.  His love is real. 

The lady–she traveled back to her home land not long ago and when she returned she came home with two handmade bracelets--her birth place’s name embroidered on the bracelet.  One for her and one for her friend–

And the bracelet hangs in a special place where her dear friend can see it daily. It's a reminder of the bond between real friends and the beautiful memory of a question--a question only answered when actions speak much louder than words can ever be said.

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All photos @copyright Tathel Miller, unless otherwise credited to another photographer.