wondering:

Did John the Baptist wear his clothes of camel hair into the river to baptize people? Did the crowd complain about the lingering smell of a camel-sized wet dog?

wondering about my decision:

Sitting in chiropractor’s waiting room. Waiting rooms are where armies of germs hang. I had determined not to pick up a magazine. Who knows who has been flipping pages with diseased fingers. Two kids, ages 6-8, enter. Overactive is a good word. Climbing on chairs. The girl announces that her younger brother never showers. He responds with nasty words that young siblings enjoy using. I started it all with my, “Hi guys. How’s it going?” The girl came to sit next to me and engage me in conversation. She reminded me that she and I are alike—“We both have to wear glasses.” Then she picks up a magazine and offers it to me. Moral dilemma! I told her my glasses were dirty and I wouldn’t be able to read well. She tutored me on glasses hygiene.

The lady said, “Dean, room 2.” I excused myself and the girl held up her hand—to give me a high five. Hard choice! Dilemma! Dilemma! My priority was to affirm those kids, especially the kid who selected me to be her friend. I looked at her hand and saw (gift of discernment) exactly 11 million germs wanting to get on me. I used a diversionary move. Wondering if I should have sacrificed my health and touched her hand? I still don’t know, but I sure don’t feel good about my decision.

seeing and wondering:

Looking into the deeply gray day, I recall a southern writer saying, “The problem with Yankees is cloud cover. Anyone going that long without seeing the sun undoubtedly needs a front-end alignment.”

wondering and hearing:

The man Jesus healed in John 5:1-15 had been an invalid for 38 years. When Jesus healed the man, the Greek word therapeia is used. Heal—therapeia—the foundational word for “therapy.” Teacher Rick Remmer says this is the Greek word used 90% of the time to describe Jesus’ healings. He also says that therapy suggests cooperation with the therapist is required. That is why Jesus said things like, “Stretch forth your hand.” “Get up and get going.” The result is healing—cooperating with the healing and healer which is the act of faith.

Remmer says the enlarged meaning of the word “whole” means he got his life back. “Do you want to be whole?—Do you want to get well?” “Do you want your life back?”

I’m wondering how old the man was. Was he 38? Had he been an invalid all his life? Or, did he remember when he could walk and care for himself? Was he an invalid resulting from a work-related injury? If he was an invalid from birth, getting his life back meant he would only be a younger version of his dependence on others. Jesus was offering the life/purpose God originally planned.

I’m wondering if the invalid saw himself as invalid?

I’m wondering where I can find a front-end alignment.

©2020 D. Dean Benton   Wonderer, Writer, Witness