This past week I had surgery on my foot. I will get to wear a boot for about six weeks. I have a new found sympathy for those who have to use crutches, who are limited by their mobility, and who depend on others for help. Learning to use crutches has been “fun.” I will say that I have not fallen…yet. I have come close a couple of times but have avoided the collision with the ground.

Today we know that people are limited in what they can do. We have elderly folks who have, because of years of life, bodies that are wearing out. We have others who are in accidents and as a result of their accident they are immobile. When any nation is at war, there are always the brave soldiers who are shot or an explosion causes a limb to be useless to them any more.

On one occasion Jesus was by the pool of Bethesda. There were many people there who were sick, blind, lame, and withered. At this pool an angel would come and stir the waters. The first person who got to the waters when they were stirred in this manner were healed of their disease. An invalid of 38 years was there and our Lord asked if he wished to get well. His reply was that he had no one to put him in the water. As he made his way there another would step in before him and be healed. I can identify with this man. When I move now it is much slower than when I had two good feet.

We all have infirmities of some kind. Some of them are more pronounced than others. But we all have some kind of ailment we would like to have taken away (If you don’t yet, just wait a while, you will). To this man Jesus said, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” (John 5:1-9) Immediately the man did this. I do not expect this to happen in my case. But I am confident of one thing. The same One who told this man to get up and walk is present in my life today – as He may be in yours. And He will help us (not necessarily take the disease away) but He will be there for us to lean on. We just need to be patient and trust in Him to help us.