Lent 2014
March 31, 2014
Read Scripture: John 9:1-41
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. — John 9:1b-7
I coordinated long-range planning for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services for many years. Thus, I routinely met with the executives in this multi-service agency encouraging them to be more goal oriented and to measure their progress. At one of these retreats the leader of the division with responsibilities for working with persons with developmentally disabilities kept insisting on a goal of placing 100% of persons with developmental disabilities in gainful employment—a totally unrealistic goal in my mind. I sparred with him, for probably too long, trying to get him to set something attainable. I finally said, “You know you will never be able to place every developmentally disabled person in a job, don’t you.” At which point the person in charge of rehabilitation services for the blind and disabled simply said, “They used to say that about the blind.” This man, had a master’s degree, was an acknowledged national leader in the field of rehabilitation, and was blind.
Management by objective, notwithstanding, when we are in the trenches, at the scene of an accident with injury, rescuing tornado victims, fleeing from war, or working in an intercity grade school, we must have the mindset that we can and are making a difference. While we may not indeed be able to save all for whom we are striving that mindset will help save more than we normally could. When God has got our backs, we can expect miracles.
Prayer: Hope of the World please have my back as I work the work you have called me to do. Amen.
The identities of students, families, or staff in stories that are shared in the devotions have been altered to protect their privacy. Any similarities between these stories and the experience of others are coincidental. No stories about students, families of students, or staff from Putnam Heights Elementary School are included in any of these devotions.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.