Bloom

Luke 9:51-62

         I want to find myself. That was a phrase that seemed a bit more popular back in the 60's and 70's. Hippies went about the country trying to find themselves.  A man is married for X number of years, they have children, the home, works two or three jobs to keep up and make a good life for him and his family. Perhaps his spouse works too and they are comfortable. Yet the man is not happy. Perhaps his spouse is not happy or fulfilled either. One party ditches the other or maybe has an affair. Often this is an attempt to 'find themselves'. They are trying to find wholeness, completeness or meaning to life. A high school or college graduate decides to take a year off, to travel or to discern what makes them happy, to experience life and in so doing find out who they are.

          Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. What a precious gift to know who you are, what your gifts are and move forward in life as God wishes you too. Not everyone is so blessed. Then again, some people are not good listeners even to themselves, never mind others around them.

          Epiphanies about yourself and knowing who you are is a major portion of what we are here on this earth for. God created us as a special gift, a presence, His presence. If we are to be fulfilled, we need to know as much as we can about God but perhaps more importantly, about ourselves. The birds of the sky have their nests and know how to live life for themselves. Foxes too have their lives as do woodchuck and deer and rabbits. Do we know how to live?

          Knowing your are gay seems like it should be a no brainer. However I was one of those that did not listen to themselves. I denied who I was even to myself. I tried as hard as I could to listen to God, it is my life passion and my life force I suppose. But I did not listen to myself. When I realized and acknowledged who I am as a person, I was ever so much happier. I was at peace. Even as I worked or played or preached or sat, I knew where my head would lay, if not literally, certainly figuratively. I knew my purpose, or at least a large chunk of it. I was as happy as an animal, as confident as an Eagle in flight. Stuff could happen but I know who I am and where I am going. I love, I live and I know where I am headed.

          How about you? Will you deny yourself? Will you deny who you are with all the wonderful gifts God granted you? Or, like I did, will you not listen to the call to be whom God created you to be. Will you not listen? 

           Setting some time aside , quiet walks, prayer, meditation, whatever it takes. Analyzing your life by yourself or in therapy. Whatever it takes. Do it.

           You are gifted to us by God, bloom into the wonderful being you are meant t be.

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set towards Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’