Going where you may not want to

In the busyness of being a pastor, the way I stay healthy is to take the down time I need with my family to recharge. Yesterday was the Martin Luther King holiday, so I didn't post. Since I have a funeral on Thursday, I took a few hours to meet with three of Ilda's children and then talked to the 4th on the phone (he's a pastor too). They selected John 11, which tells the 3rd and final story of Jesus raising someone (his dear friend, Lazarus) from the dead. Is there anything more miraculous than that? The herd of pigs deal, calming a storm, feeding thousands...those are up there, but resurrection?!? How can you beat that?

Turning from the miraculous to the mysterious...I'm pondering Christ's opposite responses to people's willingness to follow his call. The herd of pigs guy, once he's not naked and demon possessed anymore, asks to go with him and Jesus says, "Go home and tell everything God did in you." In the next chapter, he asks someone to follow him and he says, "Certainly, but first excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have to make arrangements for my father's funeral."Jesus refused. "First things first. Your business is life, not death. And life is urgent: Announce God's kingdom!" Ouch! Hard words on a week I have a funeral.

Then another said, "I'm ready to follow you, Master, but first excuse me while I get things straightened out at home."Jesus said, "No procrastination. No backward looks. You can't put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day." What about going home to share the good news?

It all comes down to Christ's words to his disciples, "You're not in the driver's seat—I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self." Throughout our lives of faith, Christ's Spirit will lead us to where we may not want to go...at least initially. But there is no more fulfilling way to lead your life than following Jesus from this world to the next.