A few weeks ago Jud talked about feeding the 5000. It is a story I’ve heard since I was a little girl but for whatever reason this one part stuck out to me, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since.
Mark 6 says:
31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
Jesus, who is incredibly tired and worn out, is chased down by a crowd of people while he is trying to get away for some alone. He hasn’t even gotten a chance to eat. And what is Jesus’ first reaction … compassion.
In life and in leadership, I wonder how often compassion is my reaction when I’m weary and worn out. When the guy that we run into at the restaurant turns his seat around to join us, do I react with compassion? Kindness, yes. Compassion, umm … not so much. Sure, Jesus had boundaries too … and so do we. But I love his heart for the people. I love his compassion for them. I hope that my heart will be filled with compassion for people even when we are weary … or maybe, especially when we are weary.
Another way I need to continually let Jesus work on and in me.
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for me, tired + hungry + worn out = GRUMPINESS. My first reaction definitely isn’t compassion. It actually errs more on the side of sarcastic, hurtful, moody, and selfish. Dang, Jesus has a lot of work to do in me.
Thanks for sharing. I needed that.
Wow! Thinking about this one for a while.
Thanks for you thoughts and I agree that this can be a difficult one… compassion even when we don’t feel like it. It’s an interesting balance when you are a person that others depend and lean on…or when you are simply someone others admire and want to be around. I think it takes constant and deliberate work because a leader could become isolated from others as they try to sheild themselves in their fishbowl.
Scripture is so good.