Do You Want to Get Well?

              In 2004 I consulted a surgeon about an enlarged lymph node. Although he wasn’t insensitive, he was rather matter-of-fact about my options. I could have the grape-sized node removed to learn my situation or not. It was that simple. I could remain in the dark and be blissfully ignorant, or I could face whatever might be involved—good or bad.

                The situation reminds me of the story of Jesus and the invalid at the pool of Bethesda. (John 5: 1-15) He engaged the man with what we might consider an unusual question: “Do you want to get well?” (verse 6) What a question! It sounds like the wrong question. Who wouldn’t want to be well after thirty-eight years? But think about it honestly for at least a minute. Do you always want healing? Do I?

                Not everyone does. When my husband and I lived in New York City, we often saw panhandlers. One of my husband’s most interesting experiences was hearing a young man ask for bus fare to Boston for his mother’s funeral. Two weeks later, he was again working his way through the subway cars, begging for money, only this time it was to visit his sick mother! His lifestyle was something he was used to. I doubt if he wanted a change—unless it was changing his story for the next day!

                Sometimes I don’t want to be well either. I want to hang on to patterns that slow my spiritual growth. I may nurture an unforgiving heart or tighten my grip on situations, fooling myself that I can solve them when only God can. Do I truly want to be well?

                I suspect Jesus asked the question of the man because his whole life was going to change if he were healed.  He’d need to work instead of beg. He’d have to assume other new responsibilities. How badly did he want healing? Enough to step into a new world because Jesus healed him?

                What new world does God have for you and me? The day I saw the surgeon, I said yes to knowing and beginning a journey that changed my life. Hmm . . .that’s likely what God had in mind all along. He wants to change our lives, but we’re invited to participate. If God begins to heal our hard hearts, he wants us to serve him with tenderized hearts. If he heals us of illness, he wants us to share what he has done.  If he heals our fearful spirits, he expects us to teach others the freedom that we have learned.

So again the question is: Do we want to be well?