Have you ever been near a helicopter when it is taking
off or landing? The word that describes
them best is – loud!
This past week we spent a couple of days in Kansas City
at Children’s Mercy Hospital. Samuel, our #2 grandson, was there for surgery
and his room was on the second floor, four floors below the landing pad on the
roof.
When helicopters came in to land – well, you couldn’t
miss it. The windows shook and any conversation that was going on had to wait
until the maneuver was over. During the night
after his surgery, seven helicopters came in – and each time, folks that were
trying to sleep were awakened. Several
others landed during the day, which got me wondering if this was a normal
occurrence. (I imagine it is because Children’s Mercy takes the region’s most
difficult pediatric cases.)
Did I mention that the helicopters were loud? You can’t miss the “chop, chop, chop.” But if you listen carefully, there is more
you can hear. It’s almost inaudible, but
if you try you can make out the muffled whimpering of the child on board. A
child that has been an accident of some kind, or has suffered serious burns, or
is in need of some other emergency care.
In the distance, sometimes many miles away, you can make
out the roar of a car as parents rush to be at their child’s side. It’s off in
the distance, but it is coming closer. Inside
the car is louder still, as a mother weeps and a father tries to comfort.
Like helicopters, life can be so loud. Do you only hear the “chop, chop, chop”, or do
you hear more?
One day Jesus approached an insignificant little village
called Nain. “His disciples were with
him, along with quite a large crowd. As they approached the village gate, they
met a funeral procession—a woman’s only son was being carried out for burial.
And the mother was a widow. When Jesus saw her, his heart broke. He said to
her, “Don’t cry.” Then he went over and touched the coffin. The pallbearers
stopped. He said, “Young man, I tell you: Get up.” The dead son sat up and
began talking. Jesus presented him to his mother.” (Luke 7:12-15, The
Message)
A large crowd was following Jesus into the village as a
large funeral procession was coming out. It would not have been a quiet scene as
excitement mingled with deep grief and despair. Yet over all the voices, Jesus heard the cries
of a mother. He saw the pain of one who had lost her husband, and now had lost her
only son, and with him, her hope. Her heart broke His.
Jesus noticed.
Some 2,000 years later not much has changed. The sounds of life still collide as joy still
mingles with sadness. Like Jesus, we can
notice too – if we try.
Listen closely – and hear those muffled cries. Look
carefully at the crowd – and see the one who is hurting. Spot the broken hearts
in the chaos of life – and then touch like Jesus.
Chop, chop,
Ron
