In Mark 10: 46-52, we hear the story of Blind Bartimaeus. Jesus and His disciples went to Jericho, where they were met with a large crowd. Within the crowd, a blind man, Bartimaeus, sat along the roadside. Bartimaeus continuously begs Jesus saying “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”
Many people ignored him, but he begged louder. The disciples brought him over, and Bartimaeus threw his cloak to rush over. Jesus asks: “What do you want me to do for you?”, to which he responds, “I want to see again”. Jesus says “Go, your faith has saved you.” At once, his sight was restored, and Bartimaeus followed Jesus along the road.
With the fast-paced life that everyone has adapted to, it is easy to feel lost when things slow down. We lose sight of who we are, what we stand for, and who is there to support us. However, there are many times where we are the ones that prefer not to see. We refuse to look at the consequences of our own choices.
While we may not be physically blind like Bartimaeus, we feel uneasy when we don’t see a clear path for our lives. We are never truly alone, though. We carry with us certain resources that we don’t even realize we have. They appear when we seem to have lost all hope. Bartimaeus begged for others to listen to him, and Jesus stopped to hear what was on his heart.
A friend doesn’t always have to know exactly what to say. Sometimes, all they need to do is listen. A small gesture can go a long way. We too can help others to revive if only we would stop to listen to what they are saying. As Christians, we are called to treat everyone we encounter with kindness. Everyone has a unique story. Do not be afraid to spare a moment of your time, because you never know what role you could end up playing in someone’s life.
