“So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.” (Mark 6:32-33)
Ever feel like your best plans are doomed from the start because someone can’t take a hint? Your sibling. Your parent. Your best friend. Anyone who decides they need something from you right now no matter what else you’ve got going on.
This was Jesus’ idea, remember? He’s the one who said to the disciples in yesterday’s passage: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” I wonder if the disciples got discouraged when they saw the crowds they just left behind on shore waiting for them at their “solitary place.”
It takes wisdom to know how to respond when other people try to change our plans for us. Sometimes, the plan is important enough to push through the attempts to steal away our time. Sometimes, the people are more important than our personal agenda. We’ll find out tomorrow which was happening here.
The bottom line, though, is that we’ve got to be open to the fact that the person holding that “help me now” sign might be God’s way of providing his own direction in our lives.
Think: How do you decide when to give your time and attention to someone who interrupts what you’re trying to get done? How often do people change their own plans to help you?
Pray: Ask God for the wisdom and insight to know when to change your plans to get involved with someone who wants your time – and when to stay on the task you set out to do.
Do: Notice this week how often your plans get changed by other people – and how often your needs cause others to change their own plans.