Dealing with "Stuckititis"

August 4, 2021
Midweek study with Pastor Edith 
“Dealing with ‘Stuckititis’”, or Blooming where you are planted.
John 13:1-5.

In chapter 2 of his book Just Like Jesus, Max Lucado examines what it means to many people to be “stuck in a relationship”. He refers to their condition as a case of “Stuckititis” and these are the symptoms; “Attacks of stuckititis are limited to people who breathe and typically occur somewhere between birth and death. Stuckititis manifests itself in irritability, short fuses, and a mountain range of molehills. The common symptom of stuckititis victims is the repetition of questions beginning with WHO, WHAT, and WHY. Who is this person? What was I thinking? Why didn’t I listen to my mother?” (page 15) (Ok, I think you can see where I am going with this introduction, but just in case it is a bit vague, read on.)

Much of our lives seem to be spent working with, living with, even worshipping with people who have a tendency to make us, to put it politely, uncomfortable. There are several responses to choose from when dealing with folks we feel “stuck with”; we can “flee, fight, or forgive”. In his 3 years of active ministry; preaching, teaching, encouraging, and healing, Jesus chose to share this time with 12 unlikely disciples, guys that would try his patience time and time again. The bible tells us that even up until the very last day they had with Jesus on earth, these fellas were arguing over who would be number one.

Max asks the question; “How was Jesus able to love his disciples? The answer is found in the thirteenth chapter of John”: 13 1-2 Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end. It was suppertime. The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal. 3-5 Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So, he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron.” (John 13:1-5 MSG)

During the Passover meal, it would have been common to have a basin, pitcher of water and towel at the ready for the servant to use, but no servant was there to wash the disciples feel. Any one of them could have chosen to take up the task, or they could have helped each other, but they didn’t. Who did? The King of the universe, the one whose hands “shaped the stars, now washed away filth. Fingers that formed mountains now cleaned toes. And the one before whom all nations will one day kneel now kneels before his disciples…more than removing dirt, Jesus is removing doubt” (pg. 18)

So, here’s my thought for this week. If you find yourself having difficulty “blooming where you are planted”, take a moment to stop, breathe deeply and consider how Jesus loved the difficult ones, you guessed it, that includes you and I. Ask him to guide you this week and through his sweet Holy Spirit to help you love the one’s you are stuck with.

AMEN.