Follow Me

John 21:18–19
“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

I put it off for too long. Probably because I didn’t want to face it. If I didn’t go, maybe it wasn’t real.

This past week, I flew out to Arizona to see my mom, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s just three years ago. I have seen her several times since her diagnosis, but it has been a while since I last saw her. I knew the disease was progressing rapidly; all the more reason to go visit her, right? Or all the more reason to put it off. No one wants to see their loved one have the life sucked out of them.

My mom can’t dress herself. She can’t go to the bathroom by herself. She can barely feed herself. It’s easy to sit there and think What kind of life is this other than a cruel one? I think we think things like that because we are afraid that it will be us one day. We push death away- keep it at an arm’s distance- which is funny because it’s the one thing we all have in common with one another. We are all going to die.  

Welcome to the Mid-Week Pause!

Take a few deep breaths in and out.

In.

Out.

Pray: Spirit of the living God, help me contemplate the gift of life and the reality of death.

Today, I invite you to PAUSE and reflect on the fact that your days are numbered. This is fitting given it is Ash Wednesday. A day we remember that we are dust, and to dust we shall return. When you think about that truth, what stirs up inside you? Talk to God about what comes to the surface.

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young…

PAUSE.

Are you stuck in the past? Longing for the good old days? How is this robbing you of the gift of this moment? Share what comes to the surface with God.

But when you are old… another will dress you.

PAUSE.

Most of us live independent lives. However, most of us will end up being dependent on someone to care for us as we age. Ask God how you can learn to live a dependent life on him and others today, so this is not a shock to us when we are forced into dependence. What comes to mind?

And after saying this, Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”  

PAUSE.

Jesus is inviting you to follow him. To be dependent upon him. To die to yourself now so that you may have life in him today. What is your response to Jesus? Tell him what is in your heart.

On my trip, I was staying with my grandmother, who is a faithful Christian. She told me a while back, my mom looked at her and said out of the blue, “You know I believe in Jesus, right?” Even as my mom’s mind and body are failing her, Jesus remains faithful to her. Jesus remains faithful to you.

Receive his invitation. Follow him, wherever that may lead.