Out Our Way: H'Yah!

“As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about it at once. He went upstairs, took her hand and bade her rise up. Immediately the fever left her and she began to serve them.”

— Mark 1:29-31

Out our way folks know that making a clicking sound has one meaning — and making a “kissy” sound has another. Working Goliath on the lunge line, I cluck and he breaks into a gentle trot. Two clucks and he goes up a gear — still a trot but way faster. But then I make the “kissy sound” — ears go back and he breaks into his clumsy canter followed by his gregarious gallop. But we still have one gear left. When I shout, “H’yah!” he knows we aren’t playing. This is time to get serious and really start moving.

Moving cows with Charlie up on Tiger Ridge I rarely needed more that a “cluck or two” to keep things moving smoothly. Oh, now and then I might need to make the “kissy” sound and move quickly to check on the gate or some pair that seemed to have bogged down up front. But now and then things got serious and I needed the “H’yah! Gear.”

Charlie used to tell me there was always at least one pair that would make a break for it — and you had to be ready. The moment they took off you went from clucking or “kissy” sounds to “H’yah!” and tore off after them before they got over the rise. It’s one thing to push cows with a “cluck” or a “kiss “but when you have to ride them down and turn them, using the ““H’yah!” gear — is serious business.

Back in seminary, I had to study Greek because the New Testament was originally written in the language — and it turns out Greek is a pretty expressive language. Like for example, in studying the Gospel of Mark, we learned Mark liked to use his version of “H’yah!” a lot. Even in English translations you might notice it, for he uses the Greek phrase, “And immediately” over and over again. In Greek, this phrase had the same sense to the first Christians as “H’yah” does Goliath. It doesn’t just mean, “let’s get going,” but, “Let’s get going because THIS is serious! This is major stuff!” 

Now look at this little snippet from Mark’s Gospel. You could pass right over it and pay it very little attention, but there is something here that is important.

Jesus has come out of the synagogue where he has just cast our demons. Now it is time to unwind — relax — kick back with the boys. They go to Simon Peter’s home to rest and have some time off. Except Simon Peter’s mother-in-law is sick. AND IMMEDIATELY Jesus responds! He goes to her at once because SHE MATTERS! She is not one of the disciples — one of the followers whom Jesus has chosen to come and learn over the next three years. In fact this is the only mention of her. Doesn’t matter. Jesus learns she is sick and He wastes no time doing something about it. “H’yah!”  He is there!

Look what happens then. He takes her hand and “H’yah!” she stands up and is cured. And what does SHE do? “H’yah!” She immediately seeks to serve them! It’s nice to know that although the process may be lengthy and seem slow for reasons only God knows, there is nothing slow about God’s desire to reach out and love us. It’s not at the walk — not at the trot — not even at the gallop. When God hears one of His own calling out — no matter how long it may take — God is already in “H’yah!” mode and riding all out for us.

(John Bruington, Goliath and Scout can be reached at [email protected]. Articles, columns, Bruin Town Tales, cartoons and sermons are on line at http://www.havrepres.org. The book, “OUT OURWAY: Theology Under Saddle is available on Amazon.com.)