Staying Open

There is a great story in the book of 2 Kings (chapter 5) in which Naaman, a commander of an enemy army gets leprosy. He hears that there is a prophet named Elisha in Israel who may be able to heal him. In all humility, Naaman seeks out the prophet and asks for help.

I have to imagine it would not have been easy for this “military brass” to show any sign of weakness, much less to ask for help from the enemy. He clearly must have been out of options. However, when he shows up, the prophet Elisha won’t even see the commander. Instead, he sends Naaman to bathe in the Jordan River.

There would be no great show of power, no lavish attention, no special prayers, just a swim in a muddy river. This was not exactly what Naaman was expecting, so he became indignant, angry. But once again, desperate for healing, he humbles himself. He follows Elisha’s orders, and he is healed.

This story just reminds me that on the journey of life, things don’t always go according to our expectations. Our plans and our dreams don’t always work out as we’d hoped. There are unexpected detours all along the way.

The story raises the question: How often does my pride, my ego, my need to be in control, or my need to be right, get in the way of my own healing?

Today, I pray for an openness of spirit, a level of humility, and a willingness to trust.

Let us pray: Loving God, we recognize that you do not always work in concert with our expectations. Your healing and redemption often come in unexpected ways through unexpected means. Keep us humble and open. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.