BY DR. JOHN SULLIVAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-TREASURER
FLORIDA BAPTIST CONVENTION

Can you attempt the impossible?

Even before I started this series on the theology of presence, I wanted to put in perspective our responsibility in the midst of storms. Some people have an easier time handling natural disasters, mostly because they haven’t experienced many. But for those of us who have been through a few, the question being asked is “Can you attempt the impossible?”

In every storm, dependency begins with confidence in leadership and organization. Leadership will rise to responsibility and organization provides a track for the leadership to travel. So I am grateful for all who lead and for the organization of the Florida Baptist Convention disaster relief effort. Despite this when the unexpected happens presence becomes the only solution.

In my personal scripture reading, I am focusing on the Revised Standard Version of the New Testament. In Mark 3:2, when Jesus saw the man with withered hand, Mark makes an interesting observation, “And they watching Him . . .” Of course the Pharisees were looking for Jesus to break the law of the Sabbath and He did not disappoint them. He healed the man’s withered hand.

The thought occurred to me that in life’s storms everything is sacred. Jesus never separated His life into the sacred or secular. The fact of His presence made it sacred. He lived His life from the central conviction that His presence made the man worth helping. He linked him with the need, refusing to allow criticism or opposition to defuse His help or interfere with His blessing another life.

A difficult lesson to learn in a disaster is that all needs cannot be met immediately. Ultimately you restore one life at a time.

The man in the passage had a paralyzed, nerveless, inoperable hand. In the presence of thers, Jesus told him, “Stretch forth your hand.” He meant, “Attempt the impossible!”

The hard question in disaster is, “Can you attempt the impossible?” Most say, “I cannot, but I will with God’s help and your support.”

The theology of presence gives us the edge on the impossible. Others watch us to see if our presence is more than “smoke and mirrors.” Our presence helps them to undertake the one thing that seems impossible at the moment—having confidence. Presence helps them to know there is help. Help is found in God and His people. We must not spend precious time in caring for our image or conserving our power. A sure way to lose power is continuing to conserve it or spending time to protect our image. The only image we need to protect is the image of Christ. “They watched Him…” And the victims of the storms watch us.

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