April 29: Refreshing Presence

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o'clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in… When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. (Act 3:1-7)

I think this is another one of the texts where you can lose track of really important messages because our attention is drawn to the fantastic. Peter heals a man lame from birth! PETER… HEALS!! I mean Jesus – sure he’s GOD after all… but Peter? That’s awesome! And of course… like… I can’t do that. You see – I can’t be a disciple after all because Peter has powers… full on super powers – a real life super hero for God.

Of course that is what the crowds thought too… one problem – it’s not what Peter thought at all. It wasn’t Peter that healed… it was the name of Jesus according to Peter that healed the lame man. Now this doesn’t exactly get us out of the dilemma – because I believe I have faith and I believe I’ve said the name of Jesus a lot and it never caused miraculous healing… or did it?

What if we back away from the fantastic event of the lame man walking and look at what Peter really did for a moment. Do you see it?

Look closely – look at it… do you see it?

“Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, ‘Look at us.’”

Peter told the lame man that he had no money to give him… that he had only one thing to give. And what he gave was his attention – what he gave was the dignity of recognition and relationship.

You can imagine what usually happens can’t you? Hundreds of people a day probably walked past that man as if he was nothing more than lawn furniture… and that’s the more positive result because hundreds more walked past him with awkwardness as they sought to look anywhere but at him.

I’ve done it – I’ve looked the other way hoping that I wouldn’t feel so bad about doing nothing… pretending that what I don’t see doesn’t really exist. In fact if we push back the bubble enough we can pretend that everyone else lives a life just like mine. Like a horse pulling a carriage we put our blinders on – so that we won’t get distracted by the people on the periphery of our lives.

What does Peter give him? Not scorn or embarrassment, or pity and condescending care. He doesn’t give him money, or easy answers, or cheap platitudes, or derision, or food… or anything the man was probably expecting or hoping to receive.

Peter instead gives him his full attention. I see you. Now look at me… yes you see me, seeing you. Peter acknowledges that this “man” this “lame man” is sitting there and he grants him the personhood he deserves – and dignity as someone worthy of notice… worthy of stopping what Peter is doing and granting acknowledgement of this person who is more than just a shameful disability. And in the stopping, the notice, the eye-to-eye greeting – the Spirit offers refreshment, healing, and wholeness!

Peter doesn’t work a major miracle – Peter acknowledges a man as worthy of notice… and that is not beyond the ability of any of us to do in our own lives. As for what comes of it? That’s the Spirit’s work… but we have to take the first step – to see and be seen, and let the Spirit work through us.

What blinders are you wearing and why?

Who has acknowledged you and made you feel more whole?

Who has God put in your way that you might be a refreshing presence to them?


Refreshing and Healing God,
Open our eyes that we might see one another.
Open our hearts that we might love one another.
Open our spirits that we might be made whole.
Open our lives that we might bring wholeness to others.
Amen.