Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee… From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’
Matthew 4: 12 and 17
Picture this: John the Baptist, locked up in a cell. The prophet had just labored in the wilderness, where crowds of people flocked to see him and listen to his words. For John, the purpose of his life was fulfilled when he baptized individuals in the Jordan. He knew that he was preparing the way for Jesus. Then, Jesus arrived. However, John now finds himself imprisoned. From his perspective within the cell, he is unable to witness the events unfolding in the world. Perhaps, John’s thoughts are drawn towards imagining the occurrences beyond the walls of his confinement. What remarkable things will he be unable to witness due to his incarceration while awaiting execution?
When I contemplate John the Baptist’s imprisonment, I am inevitably reminded of the experiences that transpire when someone enters a locked psychiatric wing. Between April 2005 and June of 2010, I found myself admitted to a locked ward on four separate occasions. As the doors closed behind me, I began to envision the world I left behind. That world seemed to be hurtling forward without me. I was stuck in stasis. I assumed my peers were progressing and maturing, leaving me behind. This was especially challenging for me during my early adulthood in my twenties.
Today, equipped with the perspective I have gained, I recognize that God has worked with me to make up for the losses I endured. All the missed opportunities have been mended through interactions with the divine. The crucial lesson I learned was the necessity to gradually reintegrate with life over time. Healing and catching up has taken years. Jesus has pulled me from the metaphorical cell numerous times and nurtured me to a point where I feel genuinely present in the current moment.
Gracious Creator, when we feel like we are missing out, please make your presence known.
