"Come, follow me!"

Sometimes following means leaving.

Bible Passage: Mark 1:16-20

¹⁶As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." ¹⁸At once they left their nets and followed him.
 ¹⁹When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. ²⁰Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Reflections:
It has been some time since I've blogged. It seems to be one of those things that come in spurts. I find myself frequently on a pendulum between the extremes of living in my present calling and living out of a painful background and story from which Jesus has plucked me. My analysis is that if I were spending to much time in either, it could be an indication that I am living inauthentically (burying down painful parts that have contributed to my passion for those hurting as well as my passion for my Lord) or that I could be churning in bitterness or unforgiveness (if my difficult family situation is the sum of all I fixate). Flared situations have caused me to reflect a bit more. I share those reflections with you.

Again, I ask myself. What is my calling?? Am I following Jesus in his specific calling for me or am I fleeing my family responsibilities? Is there Biblical precedent to allow for this choice or am a hypocrite, taking the "easy way out"?

How interesting to consider Jesus' calling of the disciples. He called them away from their families. They left their comforts, their occupations, their safety and their families. But ... they left with purpose.

Prayer:
Lord, it seems you continue to barricade the door of reentry with my family with increasingly more barriers ... bigger and stronger and more in number. You have opened other doors that I have walked through in faithful devotion to you.

Help me to bear the real and imagined "voices" that scream "hypocrite". Allow me to walk in faithfulness to you. Please help those behind those barricades that I have been most severely unsuccessful at helping. Bring others to comfort them or reopen ways for me.

Keep me from anger and hurt. Remind me that all changes or lack of changes are from you alone and not because of my righteousness or my wickedness. That being said, sanctify me increasingly more for your glory to shine through me and ease the suffering of others.

For Jesus' name sake! Amen