Time to Regroup

I consider myself an introvert. When needed, I can handle myself in large groups, I can be social, I can hold conversations about all sorts of topics. But I'm most comfortable hanging back, just listening to other people talk.

I really prefer small groups.

I tend to believe that Jesus was a bit of an introvert, also.

We know that crowds of people followed him. But sometimes we forget "the rest" of the story:

• Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him. Matthew 5:1

• When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Matthew 9:8

• When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. Matthew14:13

• Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. Mark 3:7

• After he took him aside from the crowd Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. Mark 7:33

• But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way. Luke 4:30

• The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. John 5:13

Jesus never ignored the crowds that followed him or gathered around him.

But every once in a while, he needed to withdraw and regroup.

We're still in the church season of Epiphany, but in a month, we'll be in the church season of Lent. It's a time of reflection and renewal.

It's a time to step back and regroup to renew our baptismal commitment.

Take some quiet time this Lent to regroup and renew.

--Ann Warner