We all Make Messes

“And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!”And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.” Luke 22:50-51 NIV

In a story published yesterday titled, “Just Who Cleans Up After the Boston Marathon Runners?” it was reported that some 30,000 runners ran the 2023 iconic race in very wet conditions. During the race, soaking-wet layers were shed throughout the streets as runners attempted to stay cool and dry. Meanwhile, discarded water bottles, gel packets, and other race-related debris lined the streets. This led to a question many runners asked, “How does this colossal mess get cleaned up so quickly after the race?” A recent story from MassLive revealed that it might have a little something to do with the nearly 10,000-strong army of blue and yellow-clad volunteers, some of whom have volunteered their time for over 30 years… Once the last runner begins the race, volunteers and race staff have returned the starting line at Hopkinton Center to its normal state. “Once that last wave is gone, all the clean-up starts immediately,” Jim Grasso, a race volunteer from Burlington, Massachusetts, told MassLive.com. “All the stuff’s off the street, all the trash is picked up, all the bags are lined up for the pickup... it’s like it never happened.”

And you know, when it comes to quick and complete cleanups, the Bible gives us the story of Peter’s ‘mess-up’ on the night Jesus was arrested. When Peter saw that Judas was about to betray Jesus and the guards were going to lead him away, Peter was the “one” who “struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.” This was not only scandalous but against the law and therefore punishable. This momentary lapse in judgment could have ruined Peter’s life. But Jesus “touched the man’s ear and healed him.” Isn’t that just like our Savior though? Before being led away with the weight of the world on His shoulders, Jesus cared enough about His friend to restore an ear, effectively cleaning up Peter’s mess ‘like it never happened.’

So let us vow to follow the example of our Savior by helping our friends (and strangers) who might be in need of cleaning up a ‘mess’ they might have made, remembering that we aren’t exempt from making messes ourselves. Let us be the hands and feet of Jesus to a ‘messed- up’ world that they might be drawn to the One who loves the lost enough to restore them. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we all make messes from time to time. Help us to look upon others with compassion rather than haughtiness knowing that it’s only by the grace of God that we haven’t made a permanent mess of our own lives. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!