Habituation

Psychologists and Physiologists talk about a phenomenon they call “Habituation.” You’ve probably heard the example of the Frog in the Kettle. If you drop a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will immediately hop out because it burns him. But if you drop a frog into a pot of comfortable water and gradually increase the temperature, the frog will be swimming in boiling water before it realizes it is hot. That’s what it means to be habituated.

Scientists have measured the effects of habituation in the laboratory. If you repeat a sharp noise every five seconds and measure the effect on your consciousness your body will react dramatically to the first sound. But the second sound will make less of an impression. And the third, still less because you are becoming habituated to the sound. In other words, we have grown so accustomed to the sound that eventually we hardly even notice it.

Jesus tells the story of the Rich Man and the beggar named Lazarus who sat at his door wishing for the crumbs from his table. But the rich man ignored the needs of Lazarus and did nothing to help. I wonder if the Rich man even saw Lazarus lying at his gate? I’m sure he did, at first. But then as time went on he became habituated to Lazarus’ presence.  Lazarus’ presence and his need made less and less of an impression on the rich man, and soon, it was as if Lazarus was not even there.

I wonder, who is the Lazarus sitting at our gates? Our world is filled with people in need. Some of those needs are economic and can be solved with money. Others need love, recognition, encouragement. Some need a role model or a friend. People have a myriad of different needs in their lives that may go unnoticed if we don’t look in their direction.

Who or what have you been overlooking in your life?  Are you aware and sensitive to the needs of the people around you…or have you become habituated and don’t even see it anymore? Who is the Lazarus at your gate…and what are you going to do to help?  And if you don’t, who will?

Tim Hobbs, Pastor