Finding Healing Amid Confusion

For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
Mark 6:31b

By Emily Holman

Six weeks ago my sister and I were in the Scottish islands of Orkney, Skye, Mull, and Iona. We saw sheep everywhere in the fields: white sheep, black sheep, sheep with black noses, sheep with striped legs. They looked placid and calm, but it’s a crazy process to round sheep up for shearing or shipping off to market. The sheep run everywhere, going in all directions. The shepherd whistles and his sheep dog runs in all directions to herd the sheep into the pen. The sheep need the shepherd to provide order and direct them to where they need to be.

In today’s gospel from Mark, we have three stories of Jesus providing order, direction, and peace to his people. In the first, the apostles had been busy working on the skills Jesus taught them. They had gone into villages teaching Jesus’ gospel message and healing the sick. Tired and hungry, they were also eager to share their stories with their shepherd. Jesus led them away to a quiet place where they could be alone with him to rest and reflect on their travels.

In the second story, crowds followed after Jesus and his apostles as they went off to rest. The people were just milling about waiting as mindless as sheep. Jesus felt compassion for them and began to teach them about his kingdom. He organized them into groups of about fifty, so they could focus on Jesus’ words.

Very early the next morning, the crowds again followed after Jesus and his disciples. They eagerly brought their sick to Jesus and begged to touch the edge of his robe. Again, in his compassion, Jesus brought them healing through this touch.

Just like the sheep and Jesus’ followers milling about, it sometimes seems as if we too are rushing about without any direction. We have busy schedules and too much on our minds. Maybe we have tough decisions to make, in our jobs, or with our families, or a health issue that we don’t understand. The wars in Israel and Gaza, Ukraine, Congo, Sudan and in so many other places add to our worry, as well as our upcoming election. Information comes at us from all sides. Arguments erupt here, there, and everywhere. We feel confused, anxious, and powerless.

But Jesus gave us three ways to deal with all these problems that make us feel crazy. One is to get away for little while for a change of pace and routine, to go on a retreat or seek spiritual direction. Retreating for even a couple of hours can help us calm down, rest, see our problems in a different light, or share with a neutral or close friend.

Another strategy is to seek direction in communal Bible study, meet with a church leader, or just take time on our own with God’s Word. Many of us already know the quiet, calming verses of today’s psalm, Psalm 23. Paul’s letter to the former Gentiles in Ephesus reminds those new Christians that “in his flesh [Christ] has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.” Through Jeremiah, God comforts us with the promise that “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock…I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing.” We can pray with hope for good guidance in the Episcopal Church from our new Presiding Bishop, The Right Rev. Sean Rowe, and for good leadership from whomever we elect as president in November. With hope and prayer our deep differences can be resolved, and all of us brought together again.

A third source of healing is the power of Jesus’ touch for those who actively seek it. You may remember the Reverend Randy Callender’s sermon about the power of touch. As disciples of Christ, we can offer this healing power to one another with something as simple as a hug, a powerful action for those who are lonely, grieving, worried, or sick. With mutual consent, compassionate touch expresses our Christian love and the transforming love of God.

Those are Jesus’ three ways to find comfort or release from the besetting confusion and worry of these times. Get away to a quiet place to consider your experiences and get organized. Learn from Biblical resources and teachers about relevant situations. Seek a healing touch, a doctor’s help if necessary, the understanding touch of a friend. Pray and be patient.

Be well. Be at peace.

Emily Holman