Are You Afraid To Let Go?
A couple of years ago I remember taking my son to a birthday party, and it was at this party where he acquired one of his first addictions… BALLOONS! As we approached the park where the party was hosted his big brown eyes saw balloons of all colors tied to each picnic table in the pavilion. He had a smile from ear to ear and immediately ran to a paired set of red and blue balloons shouting, “Boom, boom!” because he couldn’t quite say balloon yet.
Michael wasn’t strong enough to rip the strings from the table so he just stood there holding these two balloons tightly, giggling and happy to be holding such a prized possession. He had no idea that there was so much more to the party that he was missing out on. There was another whole world of slides, swings, tunnels, see-saws and wooden towers to explore right next to the pavilion where he stood with a tight grasp on his balloons.
I think at times we do this in our relationship with God. There is some area of our life we think we need, but we are afraid of letting go. We are scared to let go of that something that has got our attention and that distracts us from the awesome deep relational connection he desires us to have with him.
The funniest part of all this is Terri, one of my coworkers, cut the string and he still didn’t realize he was freed from the table! He stood there playing with his balloons never leaving to explore the rest of the party or the playground.
When we decide to do life God’s way (early Christianity was actually called “the way”) we are set free. Much like Michael was set free from the limitations placed on him by the string. We get so engrossed in our selfishness that we are blind to what God has for us in this existence. Sometimes the challenges we face seem insurmountable. We ask ourselves, “How could God allow these things to happen?” Or our pride gets in the way and we wonder, “How could God let this happen to me? I don’t deserve this?”
When in fact, we really deserve nothing. Our own selfishness keeps us tied down and blinded to the world God wants to open up for us in the future. Hopefully I can stop acting like a two year old and open my eyes to the things God wants to show me.
I like the story, about cutting the string. In reflection, according the scripture we deserve Hell. We consciously lead our lives based upon selfish ambition. We have no power in changing the direction of our destination except through the Grace and Mercy of God, crushing His Son on the cross. Yet that awareness, and even acceptance is a difficult pill to swallow. The sheer magnitude of His gift of a return home ticket requires obedience. The last words Jesus ever communicated were repent. For this person, it is a daily activity in acknowledging my personal tethered string, and cutting loose.