Have you ever been on your way to something really important, only to be held up by someone asking for help? Or maybe you’ve had a looming deadline, but a friend suddenly needs advice? Or perhaps you’ve carefully planned out your day, only for something unexpected to come up, forcing you to shift your priorities?
Once a week, I drive into work from a neighbouring town. I like to leave plenty of time in case of traffic, especially if I have a lot to do, because arriving early gives me a chance to catch up on tasks before my colleagues arrive with their questions (freeing me up to help them later).
This morning, a friend needed a bit of support. I had two options: stick to my routine and leave on time, or pause to be present for my friend and risk being a little late. I chose the latter. For me, this was an easy choice – people are the most important thing, after all.
But what if it had been a stranger on the side of the road? Would I still have made time? It’s a tough question. We live in a society that often prioritises productivity over people. Sometimes that’s not through choice; many workplaces wouldn’t accept “I helped a stranger” as a valid reason for lateness or a missed deadline. Other times, it is a choice, and we decide to prioritise ourselves or our reputations.
Now, I’m not saying there’s never a time for boundaries. Even Jesus stepped away from people when he needed time to rest and pray. But he also responded to immediate needs, making sure his actions came from compassion, not convenience.
One powerful example is when Jesus meets a religious leader named Jairus. Jairus’ daughter is gravely ill, the doctors can’t help, and he’s desperate. So, he throws himself at Jesus’ feet and pleads for him to come and heal her. Jesus agrees, and they set off, pushing through the crowds, knowing every second counts.
Suddenly, a woman who has been ostracised for 12 years due to an ailment that made her “unclean” reaches out and touches Jesus’ cloak, believing it will heal her. It works – her body is healed instantly – but Jesus notices and stops. He searches for the person who touched him, and the woman comes forward, trembling. She tells her story, and Jesus listens. He doesn’t rush her. Instead, he calls her daughter – the only time he uses this word in the Gospels – restoring not just her health, but her identity.
Imagine the tension. Jairus must have been panicking; his daughter was dying, after all. And sure enough, while Jesus is speaking to the woman, messengers arrive to say the girl has died. But Jesus doesn’t turn back. He continues to Jairus’ house, goes inside with his closest disciples, and tells the little girl to get up. In an astonishing second miracle, she rises from her bed, alive and well.
Jesus values both the ostracised woman and Jairus’ family, he makes time for both.
The situations we face day to day may not be as dramatic, but the challenge remains. Maybe sometimes we need to pause and re-evaluate our priorities. What is really important?
What do you think? When have you had to choose between your plans and someone else’s needs? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
The Reason for my Hope Blog 