Counter-intuitive
Mark 2:13-17
13] Jesus went out again beside the sea; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. [14] As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.
[15] And as he sat at dinner in Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples -- for there were many who followed him. [16] When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" [17] When Jesus heard this, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners."
Our Western culture has a hard time identifying with the disciples sometimes. Their choices seem counter-intuitive to our world. Jesus walks up to Levi, and he said, "Follow me." And Levi gets up and follows.
Of course my Western mind begins to ask those responsibility questions: Did he walk away from his job and his income? Did he leave a family behind who needs food and shelter? Don't I need to renew my insurance policy and sign my living will before I can go? Do you have an umbrella policy? I am amazed with the apparent easy the disciples follow Jesus. The phrase "no worries" comes to mind.
Yet my mind goes to things in the world which are counter-intuitive, and I have a better glimpse into the disciples. When driving on icy roads, our first response is to turn away from skid, yet the correct way to regain control is to give into the skid, turn into the skid to regain traction first before getting back on the path. When disoriented under water, the natural response is to hold onto the breath until reaching the top of the water. Yet releasing the breath creates a path of bubbles which leads to the surface of the water.
A breath path which leads to the surface of the water.
A breath path which leads to the surface of the water.
Now, I have a better glimpse into the lives of the disciples. The breath leading them comes from within. It is not always a leading which seems intuitive from our cultural point of view. It is not always a leading which gives us an immediate sense of safety and security. Turning into the ice, giving into loss of control is not an easy thing to do. Releasing life-giving breath to find the path under water, giving up life, struggling to hold onto the immense desire to inhale, waiting for the moment you break the seal of water into gasps of breath.
Sometimes taking a step toward the insecure leads to a better path. Yes, it is counter-intuitive if you look at this step through the eyes of our post-modern Western culture. But if you look at this step through the eyes of God's love, this is the most secure step you can take. Be open to your true intuition. Look for the breath within.
