We all make decisions every day of the week…every day we live. I expect we all know this to be true, but we probably don’t realize the number of decisions we make each and every day. I made a decision to do a little research and check it out on the all-knowing Google, asking the question how many choices/decisions the average adult makes each day here in America. The answer I discovered, through several different articles I read in my research, is that generally speaking, we make anywhere from 33,000 to 35,000 decisions a day. Wow, that’s a lot of decision making!
Chances are we don’t always think about the decisions we make, such as turning off the alarm clock, rolling back over in bed to get a few more Zzzz’s before getting up, making the bed…or not, picking up the cell phone, checking one’s apps, etc., etc. What I’ve described are just a few of the decisions that are likely made within the first 5-20 minutes of one’s day. On it goes throughout the day. In fact, I did just a little quick math. If we make just 33,000 decisions a day and we are awake for roughly 16 hours a day, that means we are making just over 2000 decisions an hour and around 35 decisions every minute. No wonder we feel so tired sometimes. We’re exhausted from the decision making going on in our lives…especially in the stressful days!!
One of the things that I find interesting to observe in my spiritual life, specifically my bible reading, is that of paying attention to the decisions that Jesus makes. In the gospel of Mark, chapter 1, there is a brief story that tells of a decision Jesus made. The story starts at verse 40 where a man with leprosy came to Jesus, got down on his knees, and begged Jesus to heal him. In fact, the wording is, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” Mark 1:40 (NRSV). Jesus’ response is to stretch out his hand toward the man, touch him, and say, “I do choose.” (verse 42). And we are told the man was cured.
I was reflecting on the love of Jesus expressed in his choice and this simple act. Jesus, reaching out to physically touch a leper, an outcast in the community. This is no small thing. But Jesus does it time and time again. As I thought about this brief story, it struck me that there was another choice made before Jesus said, “I do choose.”
This choice was that of the man’s. He chooses to seek out Jesus and ask for his help. You see, a leper had to isolate themselves from the rest of the community. If they were around people they had to shout out, “Unclean, Unclean!” as a warning for others to steer clear. This man made the choice to leave his isolation community, approach a known Rabbi and large gathering of people, and ask for help from Jesus. This was no small thing. But because of this individual’s choice, Jesus responded with his choice, and a holy moment took place and is forever recorded in three of the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
In reflecting on this story, I believe there is a powerful message for me in my faith journey. Sometimes, Jesus’ response and choice is directly related to my choice of deciding to seek Jesus out. When I choose to approach Jesus, it is then he also reaches out to me. I believe part of the message of this and many stories of Jesus healing, is that our choice matters.
As I write this reflection, we are just a few days away from Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. In this week, in which so many choices were made that impact our faith today, may we each make a choice to approach Jesus to learn, grow, and most of all to seek Jesus’ healing touch in the place we need it most. And when we ask for Jesus’ touch, may we hear his response, “I do choose!” Blessings on our Holy Week journey!
Pastor Keith