Here’s a small lesson from the story of blind Bartimaeus as found in Mark 10:

They spent some time in Jericho. As Jesus was leaving town, trailed by his disciples and a parade of people, a blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting alongside the road. When he heard that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by, he began to cry out, “Son of David, Jesus! Mercy, have mercy on me!” Many tried to hush him up, but he yelled all the louder, “Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10.46 – 48, MSG)

Bartimeaus knew what he wanted, and he persisted. Jesus stopped, called him over, and asked explicitly: “What do you want?” The response was clear and immediate, “Rabbi, I want to see!”

Bartimaeus knew that Jesus could transform him, and he was willing to fight through the obstacles to see him. What about us? I’ve written often about how hard it is to help folks start even the most simple spiritual discipline like daily time with God. I’m beginning to agree with Matthew Kelly that it’s not that people don’t think that Jesus can transform them; they don’t want to be transformed! If we wanted transformation, we would be as persistent as Bartimaeus.

[Moses] said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.” (Deuteronomy 32.46 – 47, ESV)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12.2, ESV)