[Propertalk] Reflection for Pentecost 4C (Trinity 3C in the UK)

[Allison Dean]

A very rough draft of a reflection for tomorrow based on the story of
Naaman, with many thanks to Kathryn Matthews and The Rev. Jazzy Bostock for
their thoughts and inspiration. It seemed an appropriate story to focus on
given that our hospital chapel service will be broadcast over hospital
radio tomorrow.  Comments and suggestions for improvement welcome.

Allison Cline-Dean,
Lead Chaplain,
East Suffolk & North Essex NHS Foundation Trust,
Based at Colchester Hospital, Colchester, Essex, UK

What do you think of when you hear the word “conversation”?   Meeting up
with an old friend and catching up for several hours over a meal or coffee?
A heart-to-heart talk with a partner about future plans?   Hearing
difficult news and speaking with the individual about it?  Possibly a
conversation with a child about an “out of the mouth of babes” statement?



As I read the readings for this week, the one thing that struck me were the
conversations and the people involved ranging from servants to kings to
missionaries to Jesus and everyone else in between.  Yet the common thread
through these conversations is the peace, grace, and healing received
because of the actions of people who had no power but had the courage to
initiate a conversation.



This really hits home in our Old Testament story about Naaman.  The
“seemingly” powerful people in the story are all named:  Naaman, the two
kings, and the prophet, Elisha.  They are, according to Kathryn Matthews
“Big Men in the eyes of the world; even Elisha, who mostly just sends
messages here, is a "man of God."  But the dramatic story of healing
wouldn't happen if the "little people," the unnamed ones, didn't move
things along.”



Naaman was a mighty general with many riches and people to command, however
he probably felt quite vulnerable.  Barbara Brown-Taylor states the



in the simplest of everyday encounters, when his success and fame and power
meant very little before the awkward discomfort of someone who might not
want to shake his hand or stare too long at his disfigurement



all because of his skin disease which the story calls “leprosy.  He has
probably spent time and money trying to find a cure for his disease but to
no effect.  Yet the king still has confidence in him and so Naaman
continues to lead the king’s forces.



The Rev. Jazzy Bostock writes



As part of his career as a commander in the army, Naaman has a slave girl –
a girl whom he had captured and stolen on one of his raids.  This girl, who
has been taken from her hometown, becomes the catalyst for his healing.  She
is a servant to Naaman’s wife, and she sees the pain the couple is
experiencing.  She sees the effect, the hold, that this illness has on his
life, and she suggests something to her mistress.  She shares the
information, the experience she has had, with the prophet in Samaria.  She
posits that this prophet has the capacity to heal Naaman.



Just one small conversation between a slave and her mistress sets off a
sequence of events that lead to the healing of Naaman.  It probably took
several lengthy conversations between Naaman and his wife before he decided
to go to his king, the King of Aram, to seek permission to go and see if he
could be healed by Elisha.  The letter received from the king is then taken
by Naaman to the King of Israel who panics until he receives word from
Elisha asking the King to send Naaman to him so that he can heal him.  Naaman
goes to Elisha who sends out a servant with the words of instruction for
healing - to literally “go jump in the river Jordan seven times”.  Naaman
takes offence at not being told to do some great act yet it is his un-named
servants who persuade him to follow the prophet Elisha’s instructions.



So many conversations with so many people yet each person in this story had
a role in the miracle which results in Naaman’s healing.  All of us have
experienced being close to someone who is ill and the resulting suffering
of not just that person but the family and friends who care about that
person.  When we experience the illness of someone we care about we look
for answers from doctors and nurses who are supposed to bring about the
miracle of healing so we don’t lose our grandfather, mother, brother, aunt.
Yet there will be times when things don’t work out the way we hope and we
have to look at next steps and make very difficult decisions in an
acknowledgement of what will happen.



There will be many difficult conversations to be held with medical
professionals, possibly faith leaders/chaplains, as well as family members
and potentially legal representatives.   Even though the conversations may
difficult, there will be small glimmers of gold as words of hope and
healing are spoken that give peace of mind and peace of spirit.  Words that
will continue to live on in our hearts and minds as we experience Christ’s
peace in our lives knowing that we are a beloved child of God, in spite of
the illness and potentially disfigurement due to treatment.



When I look at the story of Naaman I wonder what would have happened of his
wife’s little Jewish servant girl had kept silent and not shared her
knowledge.  I wonder what would have happened if Naaman’s wife had not
initiated her conversation with Naaman or what would have happened if
Naaman’s servant had not persuaded him to go bathe in the river Jordan.  So
I invite you to re-read the story of Naaman today or later in the week and
consider which character you identify with.  The Rev. Jazzy Bostock gives
us these ideas to ponder:



Maybe you can identify with Naaman – frustrated that the miracle you were
looking for isn’t what you expected. If so, we pray that your eyes might be
opened to the gift that is being offered to you, even if it looks unusual.



Maybe you can identify with the King of Israel – not sure what you are
supposed to do about a situation. If so, we pray that you see the community
surrounding you and know that you are not alone.



Maybe you can identify with the King of Aram – putting the power you have
behind a person, trying to use your influence for good. If so, we pray that
you give what you are able and then release the problem.



Maybe you can identify with one of the messengers – along for the journey,
bearing witness to the dynamics of a big cast of characters. If so, we pray
that you would prompt them along their way – to offer words and actions of
encouragement.



Maybe you can identify with one of the women – beginning conversations
about something delicate, wanting to offer the knowledge you have. If so,
we pray that you would be gifted with patience and discernment, choosing
when and how to have hard conversations.



Maybe you can even identify with Elisha – holding the words of healing that
someone else is looking for. If so, we pray you would recognize those words
for what they are and be bold in sharing them.



As children created and loved by God I pray that each of us see ourselves
somewhere in this story knowing that we are not alone in whatever we may be
struggling with.  I pray that the right people will come alongside and walk
with us at the right moment bringing with them compassion, respect, hope
and good listening skills.   I pray that our hearts, minds, and spirits
will be open to where God might be leading each of us in sharing the peace
and light of Christ and God’s Kingdom in the conversations each of us will
have this week and I pray that those conversations may transform how others
see themselves and those around them.  May each of us have the courage and
compassion of Naaman’s wife servant girl, so that we can share the word
that, in Jesus, God’s kingdom has indeed drawn near bringing hope and
healing to each person we meet as we become channels of Christ’s love and
peace.  Thanks be to God.
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