Let Go.

As we pray through the book of John, I've chosen to use the Passion Translation. In the introduction, it says, "The other three Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) give us the history of Christ, but John writes to unveil the mystery of Christ." 

Chapter 1 launches us in the very beginning and the unfolding creation... Life came into being because of him. (4a) And there's a blaze of Christ expressed with a bold invitation to "come and see".

To follow, we must let go.

For the early disciples, that meant leaving their business and family. There was a cost to follow. And not all their questions were answered in advance.  It required faith; which we spell two ways: 1) R - I - S - K - letting go of control and certainty.  2) R-E-S-T - trusting God's love and truth will provide and protect. These same disciples saw storms calmed with a word and walked away from a potluck for 5000 with 12 baskets of leftovers. 

I recently completed J.R.R. Tolkien's book,  The Hobbit.  Over and over again, the hobbit - Bilbo Baggins - says 'yes' to an adventure he wasn't sure he was ready to be on or even wanted.  Throughout the story, Bilbo repeatedly learns how to let go to his own comforts and preferences in order to complete the mission.  It reminds me of our journey with Christ and what is required of us in the mission he invites us to join him in. 

An exerpt from chapter 7 - 

The next morning Bilbo woke up with the early sun in his eyes. He jumped up to look at the time and to go and put his kettle on - and found he was not home at all. So he sat down and wished in vain for a wash and a brush. He did not get either, nor tea nor toast nor bacon for his breakfast, only cold mutton and rabbit. And after that he had to get ready for a fresh start. 

This time he was allowed to climb on to an eagle's back and cling between his wings. The air rushed over him and he shut his eyes. The dwarves were crying farewells and promising to repay the lord of the eagles if every they could, as off rose fifteen great birds from the mountain's side. The sun was still close to the eastern edge of things. The morning was cool, and mists were in the valleys and hollows and twined here and there about the peaks and pinnacles of the hills. Bilbo opened an eye to peep and saw that the birds were already high up and the world was far away, and the mountains were falling back behind them into the distance. He shut his eyes again and held on tighter. 

"Don't pinch!" said his eagle. "You need not be frightened like a rabbit, even if you look rather like one. It is a fair morning with little wind. What is finer than flying?"

Bilbo would have liked to say: "A warm bath and late breakfast on the lawn afterwards;" but he thought it better to say nothing at all, and to let go his clutch just a tiny bit. 

What does Jesus want you to come and see? 

How might you loosen your grip on life a tiny bit and choose to trust him?