On The Turning Away

⁴⁶ Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. ⁴⁷ When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁸ “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
⁴⁹ When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”
So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!”  
⁵⁰ Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
⁵¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
“My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
⁵² And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.

Mark 10:46-52 

 

I've rediscovered a song by Pink Floyd entitled "On The Turning Away" which has a haunting quality that replays itself over and over in my mind.  The more I listened to the lyrics, the more I came to realize that, like so many others before me, I had ignored the suffering of others.  There is one part of the song which says:

Don't accept that what's happening

is just a case of other's suffering

or you'll find that you're

joining in the turning away

 

To say that this pierced me to the very depths of my soul would be the understatement of my life.  To add to this verse, my devotion this morning was about blind Bartimaeus, and the writer asked a very poignant question: "How many people in the lifetime of Bartimaeus turned away from looking at him, deafened his pleas for mercy, and simply ignored him?  How many times in our lifetime to we do the same thing to the Bartimaeus' around us?"

 The punch to my forehead was almost audible!  I also read about a man who carries with him "Peanut Butter Kits" which consist of two loaves of bread, a large jar of peanut butter, and some sturdy plastic utensils.  When he encounters someone begging for food, he gives them a "kit" so they may eat several times.  

I also know of a police deputy who, when he knows he will be transporting someone to jail, will stop and purchase a hamburger, fries and drink.  When his transport is ready to go, the deputy will give them the food.  By the time they reach the jail, the one being transported is docile and cooperative.  And to think, a single act of kindness makes a HUGE difference.

Remember what Jesus asked of Bartimaeus?  "What do you want ME to do for you?"  At this point, Bartimaeus could have said any number of things which would give momentary pleasure.  Instead, he told Jesus, "I want to see."   Think about this, we have eyes yet we choose not to see.  We have ears yet we choose not to listen.  We have means yet we choose not to help.  We have become part of the turning away!  It's time we change that, don't you think?