THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

202There are reasons why we do not turn loose of our illness. Look back at the man who hadbeen blind. For him, as for us, sickness can become a way of life. All of us have known peoplewho have illnesses, sometimes physical illnesses, who have learned to manipulate and use thoseillnesses to satisfy some psychological need or maintain a hold on another person. Many parentshold on to children long after they should have set them free. The parents control their life with aconstant threat that "If you are not here continually to take care of me, to watch over me, or ifyou do not build your whole life around me, then you will be contributing to my illness and evendeath."Some children learn that the only way they can get their parent's attention is by beingsick. If they simply develop a little temperature or have a bit of a sore throat, then the parent whodoes not have time to talk with them or time to deal with them in ordinary circumstances willfind time if it's nothing more than to put them in the car and drive with them to the doctor'soffice. We learn to use our illnesses, whether they be physical, psychological or spiritual tomanipulate other people and attempt to control our circumstances. Illness then may be ahiding place from responsibility.Do you realize that in Jerusalem in Jesus' day this sick man had as good a way of earninga living as was to be found? As long as he lay each day on this mat, people would pass by, pityhim, and throw a few coins his way. No one expected much of him. He was thus able to live offhis illness.Avoidance of ResponsibilityIt is not uncommon to resist healing in order to avoid responsibility. After all healingwould mean an assumption of responsibility for our lives. For this man to be healed would meanthat no longer would people look at him as an invalid, no longer would they have pity on himand expect nothing of him. They would demand that he assume a normal role in his society. Hewould be expected to go to work and earn his own bread. He would be expected to care forothers rather than be cared for. So it is with us. There is always some threat, some change calledfor on our part when we accept healing.A while back I read a newspaper account of a bizarre parole board meeting. A 70 year oldman who had spent most of his life in prison was offered a parole. In tears, he rejected the offer,explaining that he had lived so long in prison that he would not know how to live in freedom inthe outside world. He did not want responsibility for his life.