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Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
John 12:20-22
Connect with creation: remember your roots
It’s unclear why the writer of John 12 felt the need to reiterate that Philip was from Bethsaida, but the inclusion of the information implies that Philip’s hometown may have had something to do with why the Greeks chose to approach him with their request to see Jesus. In any case, there is a sense of instant connection that comes when we learn that someone is from our neck of the woods. The place where we’re from shapes who we are; it plays a role in how we perceive the world’s deep hunger and our deep gladness.
Take a walk through your neighborhood today. Notice the things about it that give you joy and the things that annoy you. How are those things connected to the way you experience gladness and the world’s need in other places in your life? Consider taking along a bag so you can pick up litter along your walk.