This morning I met Maurice for the first time. Maurice, a springer spaniel puppy, was having his first walk on the beach. He was excited by everyone he met, every dog he met, loving any attention. Everyone was his friend so he reached out to everybody and everything.
Yesterday Bill was telling me about his grandson. Now fourteen months old, grandson is not yet walking unaided, but is pleased to pull himself to his feet and reach up to shelves. If there’s something he can’t quite reach, he gets a book or two to stand on so that he can reach higher.
Last Saturday John, an elderly neighbour, had fallen in his garage and was lying on the floor. He wasn’t injured, but didn’t have the strength to get up again. A couple of us reached out to him, thinking we could help him up. There was no strength in his arms or legs. We decided against it. Later, paramedics were able to give him the help he needed.
Yesterday, my friend Al, who’s never been married, was talking about one of his girlfriends. They’d booked a holiday together, but he knew that there was no future in the relationship, so he called it off. She still went on holiday – and came back engaged to be married to a man she’d met! It confirmed Al’s decision!
I remember the Bible story… The disciples are in a boat on the lake… Jesus walks on the water to them… they’re scared and think it’s a ghost… Jesus says, ‘It’s me. Don’t be afraid’… Peter gets out of the boat, walking to Jesus on the water… Peter’s afraid, starts to sink… Jesus reaches out his hand and catches him…
Reaching out? Maurice’s enthusiastic inclusion of all… Bill’s grandson’s purposeful determination… John, who I couldn’t help… Al’s realisation of the wrong person… Peter’s confident dependency on Jesus…
Reaching out isn’t as straightforward as I’d like it to be… Praying for wisdom as I reach out… to give or receive…
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