GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 9:19
One Task at a Time
In early October 2024, the nation watched as Hurricane Helene blew through the Southeastern states. The damage was severe in North Carolina, where nearly 30 inches of rain fell in some areas. The wall of water washed down the mountains, flooding the rivers. The damage along the rivers was almost total. One tourist town, Asheville, North Carolina, along the French Broad River, suffered unimaginable destruction—buildings washed away, bridges destroyed, and roads completely gone. Anyone looking at the devastation could understand the sentiment of one woman standing beside the foundation of her former business, who said she was leaving the area. But there were scenes of people, with tools in hand, beginning to put the pieces back together, one job at a time. It was a monumental task.
The North Carolinians provided a good lesson in how to keep despair from paralyzing one. Undoubtedly, they saw the magnitude of the destruction, but they began with the task at hand. The poet Charles Kingsley wrote: “Do the work that’s nearest,\ Though it’s dull at whiles,\ Helping when we meet them\Lame dogs over stiles.” There are still signs of the destruction around Asheville, but the town is recovering one task and one day at a time.
Mark wrote about Jesus’ meeting with Moses and Elijah on a mountain. Three of his disciples witnessed the event, a majestic cloud wrapped around them, and they heard a voice say, “This is my beloved Son, hear him.” (Mark 9:7) Luke said that the divine visitors “spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:31) When they descended from the mountain, Jesus saw a group including scribes gathered around his disciples to whom a father had brought his son, who had a mute spirit. But the disciples were not able to deliver the boy. “But answering, he said to them, ‘O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.’” (Mark 9:19) On one hand, Jesus saw the magnitude of the task—his future at Jerusalem, the unbelief of the crowd, and the weakness of the disciples—but he did not sink into despair. He said, “Bring him to me.” The surest way to avoid pessimism and despair is to take what immediate action one can—and there is always something to be done.
Rather than sinking into despair, the citizens of Asheville began shoveling away the mud, clearing the streets, and repairing buildings one brick at a time. Jesus could not change the minds of the crowd at once, embolden his disciples, or deflect the cross, but he could minister to one unnamed child. Father, let me get on with the present task, and not despair of the future.
Previous
Next
Directory