COVID-19 infections have reached the million mark and deaths from COVID have surpassed 200,000. These figures seem to be no match for people's desire to gather, even amid mounting frustration. Frustration is a powerful emotion.

Like many, I too am frustrated with the linear living of picking up groceries in the parking lot, coming home only to watch the “Top 10” movies on Netflix; all after a day filled with Zoom meetings. Let’s be honest, it gets very tempting to break up the monotony of COVID life. And what better excuse to change the game than Thanksgiving. 

Many families have traditions tied to this time of the year. As Thanksgiving approaches, many people are making plans to visit friends and host family. I get it-you desperately want your aunt's famous macaroni and cheese, your momma's sweet potato pie or Pop's famous deep-fried turkey. Your mouth has been salivating for it and all the more now that you have Doordashed your wallet into a conniption. However succulent and savory all those vittles may be, I want you to hold fast. Don't let the frustration of your life cloud the choices of your life. 

Spending time with family may bring you the greatest joy that you have felt in quite some time; Seeing loved ones may provide you with profound comfort that has not missed your doorstep in months. All of these are good feelings; however, the risk of endangering your eldest family members, dearest friends loved ones who may have health challenges, is the greatest challenge in and of itself.  But let’s remember, our friend and family who have health challenges are highly susceptible to the effect of COVID.  Keeping all of this in mind, let’s do something different; Set off the gratification of gathering at the manifestation of a meal, for peace that you didn't pick up or pass along COVID-19. 

Think outside the box this year. Find ways to celebrate together, apart. Have mom mail you the famous dish for which she is known. Have your favorite aunt wrap up her signature casserole and leave it on the porch. Find ways to sure up a way to see them next year, if the Lord grants you life, don't let the frustration of being inside, and possibly alone, push you into a gathering with variables that could make you a victim. 

Happy Thanksgiving.

Mark 8:22-26  
Jesus comes to the village of Bethsaida and is met by a cadre of gentlemen who desperately want their blind friend to be healed with a touch from Him. The men seem to want the healing for the man more than the blind man wants it for himself; the bind man never says anything to affirm these desires. Take note of this friendship. You know you have some good friends when they work harder than you for your benefit. At the outset of this encounter, we do not hear from the blind man at all.  

Jesus seems to sympathize with the pleas of the blind man’s friends for he takes the blind man by the hand and leads him “out of the village.” This seems strange because until this point, healings were mostly instantaneous. Furthermore, when you scour Scripture, you do not see the elements of this encounter again. Why does Jesus take the man out of the village? Matthew 11:21-22 helps us to see that Bethsaida is an unrepentant city that is cursed by Jesus. In other words, there is no longer any victory in Bethsaida. Jesus knows this and acts accordingly.  

No Victory Zone  
The next part of the text is what gripped my soul: Jesus could have, without question, brought new victory to Bethsaida again with the healing of this blind man, but He didn’t. There are places that no longer have victory and Jesus will not be performing on your behalf in those places. In these places, your time has run out, your energy is depleted, and your money has grown limited. It is time to go. Let Jesus move you. Give Jesus your hand and go blindly with Him until you reach the outside of your no victory zone.  

Messy Moments  
Jesus spits on the blind man’s eyes and lays His hands on him, asking him “What do you see?” I must admit this moment in the encounter caught me off guard, but I had a pressing premonition to believe Jesus was up to something. Jesus was gauging the man’s perception for the benefit of his perspective. In order to do this, it was time to get messy. Jesus wants us to know “better”; and “better” for us may be through messy moments; moments when we are ashamed and dare not share; moments we hope to forget and never relive. Messy moment are necessary for our spiritual formation and based on this story, seem unavoidable. I have relegated in my heart that if it takes messy moments to get close to Jesus—then bring on the mess!  

Furthermore, it takes mess to master the message. It is the mess that possesses the healing balm and blessing. We spend our entire lives running from messes. But what if God designed the mess, such as this case in this text, to be motivated to turn our lives around? What did Jesus use to make the blind man see? Answer: the muddy mess on his face. What can Jesus use to  make us see? Answer: the muddy messes in our lives. Spend some time reviewing your messes. You were blind, but with the help of Jesus you will now see.