"Come and Follow Me"

To use a biblical parallel, my boat was empty. I had been searching for a means to fill it, fishing in waters void of life. I began to search for answers, knowing I would find them in scripture, in other Godly people. Then, through the Christ Renews His Parish Retreat, Jesus told me, “Cast your nets here.” And sure enough, my nets were full to ripping. The harvest I reaped was beyond my expectations.

But it was just the beginning.

Then Jesus told me, “Leave behind your things and come follow me.”

I don’t consider myself a very materialist person, I don’t hoard many things (yes, I realize I wrote “many”, which means that I do), and I do consider myself a Christian. But the call came to me to do more. “Leave behind your things.”

What things? I asked him.

“The things that are keeping you from me. The things that consume the times I want you to spend with me. The things that prevent you from knowing my Word well enough; others could come to me through you if only you read the words I left behind for you. Leave all these things behind, Come follow me.”

And so I’m trying. I took a leave of absence from the Junior League; a well-known women’s volunteer organization that has helped me become comfortable speaking before crowds, helped me understand the organization of a non-profit, and witness the necessity of a Godly mindset necessary within groups outside of the church. I can use those skills to further God’s plans for me.

I took a good look at the things that were keeping me from spending time with God’s Word, keeping me from quiet, focused prayer. I cancelled our cable TV service. Without the distraction of programming (that really just makes me dumb), I have much more time for God. I wake an hour earlier to read my bible and to write.

But like the Cat in the Hat, “I can hold up the fish! And a little toy ship! And some milk on a dish!” I’m going to “come down with a bump from up there on the ball” and thus accomplish nothing for God. So I’m still looking for things that are against God to cast them out of my life. I pledge my life to God and his will.

I believe part of following Jesus is being actively involved in the planning and formation of the next Christ Renews His Parish Retreat. It’s a weekly commitment for several months, but hardly a waste of time. Through scripture, prayer and fellowship, the formation process is designed to break down the barriers between ourselves and God. Like Peter, I don’t expect to follow Jesus on a perfect path, there will be stumbling points, but like Peter, I know Jesus will pick me up and love me regardless.