letting go

It's been a perpetual season of letting go...

A season of letting things die...myself included.

I don't always die so well. Really, don't know many who do but for Jesus; one man, perfect in life and death. He died well.

The grieving of letting things go, letting things die is bittersweet.

Speaking of Lazarus...Then Thomas said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” John 11:16

...that we may die with him...a friend, a loved one, a family member...the Christ.

So many journeys I don't want to take. So many roads I'd rather avoid all together. Many cups I want to pass.

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” John 11:21 & 22

Bitter is the sting of loss. Sweet is the promise of hope.

And then the offense of death, of stripping away what is precious, of four days in bewilderment at how the One who could turn this all around, stayed away. Even saying, "and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe."

Why so much dying in the midst of the Resurrection and the Life? Why so many salty tears mingled with sweet wine?

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;  and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25 & 26

Do I believe this? Not simply physical death, bodies buried in tombs but, death to intangible things, undefined things, unseen things? Things that take faith to even see? Things that seem to die before they are even yet alive, seemingly? Things that are precious, invaluable?

Jesus wept.

Two words that fill thousands of pages in my heart. He cries with me. He cries for me. He understands loss, though nothing was ever truly taken from Him. He gave it all away freely, and all his loss is my gain. He wept and He weeps, still.

"But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” John 11:37

Oh, how I've asked the question but comforted myself like Martha...“I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” There will be a resurrection. There will be life anew. What was once dead will be made alive again.

But Jesus meant it for greater glory. For glory that traveled to the grave and back. Glory that eyes could hardly perceive. For no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind can perceive...

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. John 11:43 & 44

He calls forth life out of death. He calls forth light out of darkness. He requires that which has been stolen to be returned. He commands that all things crooked be made straight, that every low place be raised up and every high place be leveled. He calls forth truth out of deception, the prisoner from his prison, the lame from their sickbed. He is entirely contrary to what we see, to what we know, to who we are.

It will always be, die to live...lose to gain...let go to get God. Let go, and trust Him as your most precious 'things' die. Let the contradiction take place. Let the bewilderment run its course as you cling to the HOPE of resurrection and life. Nothing is really useful unless it first dies.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." John 12:24

All That is Hidden
Bernadette Farrell

If you would follow me,
follow where life will lead:
Do not look for me among the dead,
For I am hidden in pain, risen in love;
There is no harvest without sowing of grain.

All that is hidden will be made clear.
All that is dark now will be revealed.
What you have heard in the dark
proclaim in the light;
What you hear in whispers
proclaim from the housetops.

If you would honor me,
Honor the least of these:
You will not find me dressed in finery.
My Word cries out to be heard;
breaks through the world:
My Word is on your lips and lives in your heart.

If you would speak of me,
live all your life in me.
my ways are not the ways that you would choose;
my thoughts are far beyond yours,
as heaven from earth:
If you believe in me my voice will be heard.

If you would rise with me,
rise through your destiny:
do not refuse the death which brings you life,
for as the grain in the earth
must die for rebirth,
So I have planted your life deep within mine.