I love children’s stories. They are filled with imagination and outside of the box thinking. There are no limits to what can happen in a child’s story. The forces that keep us grounded, like gravity, are suspended. In the imagination anything is possible. We can travel anywhere in any time, past, present or future. We can be anything we want to be. And the cast of characters is limitless.
One thing we know about children’s stories is that we don’t expect them to be anchored in reality. Their purpose is to spark the imagination, to get small minds to expand beyond their limited experience. And I like reading them because it is wonderful to remember the wonder of childhood. The boundless laughter is infectious.
We know at some point in our lives that pink elephants can’t fly. At this moment we begin the journey from the magical thinking that is a normal part of childhood to more reality based belief.
Often people grow up in some areas of belief but stay immature in others. The woman in today’s story has just such a magical thinking approach to faith. She thinks that if she touches Jesus she will be healed. It is as though Jesus was a vending machine. You drop in the quarter and out comes the healing. Her healing formula is simple: touch and be healed.
Let us not be too hard on this woman. There are plenty of examples of this kind of simplistic formulas around today. A few years ago the Prayer of Jabez hit the circles. If we follow his pattern we too will get our prayers answered the way we want them. And then there were all the attendant Jesus people paraphernalia for sale. More books, songs, video series, trinkets. Yikes!
Anytime we try to reduce the Christian life to a formula we are in trouble. Jesus won’t be put in a box, packaged and ready for purchase. Relationship with Jesus is not about some external thing that we do. Just buying flowers won’t erase the harsh words spoken. A box of candy won’t make up for forgetting your anniversary. No formulas.
Well, this woman acts on her belief that is she touches Jesus’ clothes healing will happen. She wanted to touch and then slip away back into the crowd. Her years of humiliation and isolation got the best of her. She didn’t think she was worthy of Jesus’ attention. Just slip in, touch His clothes, and then slip out. No one will know. Quarter in, candy out.
Are there areas in your life that you have some formula that you follow? If I just go to church on Sunday I have fulfilled my duty, checked the box. Maybe if I put something in the plate as it is passed. Maybe if I get up early everyday and read some Scripture and pray for other people, maybe, just maybe I will get my prayer for the things I want answered.
Anytime we try to reduce our relationship with the LORD down to some formula we have missed the relationship and gone for the shiny plastic wrapping paper. Jesus wants relationship with us. Nothing less than that will do.
The Arnold Journey 