Today’s Scripture Reading (September
2, 2014): Mark 6
Lebron James
topped a recent list of the most selfish athletes playing in the world of
sports today. At the top of the list of charges against the basketball
superstar is the number of times that he uses the words ‘I’ and ‘me’ in his
interviews. While we have to admit that the Miami Heat would not have been even
close to the dominant team that they have been over the past few seasons
without James, and the reality is that the Cleveland Cavaliers went from being
a middle of the pack basketball team to being one of the favorites to win it all
simply with LeBron’s decisions to return to his former team, there is still
something that doesn’t sit well with fans when King James seems to ignore his
other teammates on the court. As good as we know that Lebron is, it would seem
only good manners to at least pretend to give the other players on the court
some of the credit for winning.
In all
fairness, King James seems to be learning this lesson. His return to Cleveland
was much more of a humble event then his decision to leave Cleveland for Miami.
And while Miami became an NBA power during the reign of Lebron, it was not near
the success that Lebron had originally predicted. Even the strength of Lebron
James was not enough to produce a string of championships. But according to at
least some of the fans, Lebron still has a measure of growth needed in the area
of humility – literally in his ability to really see the other people he is
playing with.
This bible story
is very familiar. Jesus feeds the 5000. The people want to make him king, which
is not part of the agenda that Jesus has committed himself to and so he escapes
up the mountain. In Jesus absence, the people decide to depart; it is time to
go home. And with them, the disciples also decide to cross the Sea of Galilee.
Part two of
this very familiar story is about a storm that comes up on the Sea of Galilee.
The Sea is really a large lake and it is known for rapid changes of weather. The
disciples are in trouble. As hard as they work, they just can’t seem to make
any headway against the storm. The reality is that they are beginning to tire
and the fight is beginning to leave them. And it is in this moment that Jesus
appears on the water. He walks across the top the waves and finally reaches the
boat and calms the storm. Jesus saves the day and the disciples marvel at this
teacher who even the wind and waves obey.
But
sometimes what we miss is this small verse connecting the two stories. Jesus,
while still on land and most likely still on the mountain looked down and saw
the disciples. Jesus was not just accidently there, he saw the distress of the
disciples and moved into a position to help.
If we are
really called to reach our world, and I believe that we are, then maybe that
reaching begins with seeing. We need the ability that Jesus seemed to have to
see our world and be ready to move to help. But it all starts with simply the
ability to see.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Luke 9
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