There he was.
Tied up.
Who knows how long he’d been waiting?
The most insignificant of animals with an inconsequential life.
No thoroughbred blood running through his veins.
His next meal was his only solace between chores.
A helpless laborer, a meaningless creature. When, all of a sudden…

I’m reminded today of a sweet old gospel song called, “That’s Him.”

”A tender blade of grass so green
Crushed in the footprint of the Nazarene
Sprang back and waved to a bird on the wing
That's Him!
In a mighty old river in the noonday sun
An outcast kept crying, "I tell you He's the One"
A voice out of Heaven said, "I'm pleased with My Son"
That's Him.”

If you’re like me, you’ve questioned your significance. Is this really what I was meant to do? Well, the next time you ponder your purpose, think of that donkey. Jesus asked for him SPECIFICALLY. Sure, the Lord could have chosen any method of transportation, but He chose him. Uniquely qualified, his purpose was to carry Jesus to His.

Forgive my sentimental imagination, but I like to think that a donkey NOBODY had ever ridden knew exactly who he carried. He was born for one day, one ride, one obscure and invisible journey, and he never felt shortchanged. I bet he did his best to make Jesus proud. Of course we don’t know what the Lord said to him as He got off and walked away, maybe nothing. But this weak writer likes to think that as the crowd took Jesus the rest of the way, that little donkey stood taller than ever. “That’s Him,” he must have thought. Jesus wanted a ride.

- Jimmy Peña

AFTER THOUGHTS: One of the saddest verses in the Old Testament for me happens to be when God allowed the donkey to speak and the donkey asked his owner why he beat him so hard. (So, yeah, I think the donkey on Palm Sunday knew who he carried.) Blades of grass, birds in the air, rocks and donkeys. Yep.

Ever felt unnoticed? Passed over? Insignificant? Disregarded? Ever wondered what Jesus could use you for? No matter what your life’s calling or trade, there is someone you know or someone you don’t who is empty and lost. You’re hand-picked. Like the donkey in our story, you may be the carrier of their only hope. So, get up. Deliver. Carry your purpose.

P.S.
A show of hands of those who would have proudly been the donkey. I’ll start. Me.