Time to Regroup
I consider myself an introvert. When needed, I can handle myself in large groups, I can be social, I can hold conversations about all sorts of topics. But I'm most comfortable hanging back, just listening to other people talk.
I really prefer small groups.
I tend to believe that Jesus was a bit of an introvert, also.
We know that crowds of people followed him. But sometimes we forget "the rest" of the story:
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him. Matthew 5:1
When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Matthew 9:8
When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. Matthew14:13
Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. Mark 3:7
After he took him aside from the crowd Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. Mark 7:33
But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way. Luke 4:30
The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. John 5:13
Jesus never ignored the crowds that followed him or gathered around him.
But every once in a while, he needed to withdraw and regroup.
We're still in the church season of Epiphany, but in a month, we'll be in the church season of Lent. It's a time of reflection and renewal.
It's a time to step back and regroup to renew our baptismal commitment.
Take some quiet time this Lent to regroup and renew.
--Ann Warner
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