LEAVE!
A few weeks ago, while taking the ferry from Tortola back to St. Thomas, a father was standing on the pier as we were waiting to board. I noticed that the father looked a bit nervous and wondered why. Then I realized as we were boarding that it was the son who was travelling and not the father. But even though it was a relatively short boat ride, you could see that he was very agitated having to LEAVE his son. He reminded the crew member of the person who was going to meet his boy in St. John. And he stood there on the pier until the ferry pulled out. For our FF for today I want to share some thoughts with you on just one word – LEAVE!
LEAVING is not always the easiest thing to do. Ask the teenager who has to LEAVE home and heads off to college. It is hard for a family to LEAVE some place where they have called home for years and to relocate to a new island or city because of change in job. Maybe one of the reasons why LEAVING is often times so difficult is that it involves some measure of separation. There are those instances where the separation is temporary and of course there are those which are permanent. But as painful and difficult as LEAVING may be, there are times when it is absolutely necessary. In fact we can go further and say that in some instances it can be beneficial to LEAVE. In such cases refusing to LEAVE may in fact be to your detriment. And so LEAVING is a matter of survival.
But do we have the courage that is required to LEAVE when we know that it is the time to LEAVE? Or do we have what it takes to indicate to someone as well that the time has come either for them to LEAVE or maybe for you to LEAVE? I wonder to myself if part of the challenge is that when we ask someone to LEAVE or we ourselves choose to LEAVE that there is a feeling of abandonment that is a part of the struggle. It is really the removal of the person from your presence. It is a cutting off; a disconnection of some sort. And although LEAVING in some form is a natural part of the process of growth that takes place in our lives, part of the problem comes when the LEAVING is initiated by us and quite possibly before the person may be ready to accept the reality that comes with LEAVING. But that should not deter us from LEAVING is LEAVING is required and in fact necessary.
Remember that when Christ calls us to faithful discipleship it demands LEAVING some things and some people in order to answer that call. God called Abraham to LEAVE his homeland and take a journey of faith. Jesus called Peter, James and John to LEAVE the fishing business and embark on a new fishing expedition. Jesus knew firsthand the pain associated with LEAVING and so he promised his followers that he would not LEAVE them comfortless but that he would send another Comforter whose presence will be forever. But even Jesus had to say to his followers, it’s time for me to LEAVE. But is it time for you to say to somebody to LEAVE? Or is it time for you to say to others, “I’m LEAVING?” Either may be difficult! But when the time has come to LEAVE, there’s only one thing to do – LEAVE! Today God may be saying to you, don’t linger any longer! LEAVE!
Mikie Roberts (Rev)
HereÂ’s the link for the blog. Join in the discussions.
http://moravians.net/serendipity/index.php?/categories/1-Friday-Focus
But do we have the courage that is required to LEAVE when we know that it is the time to LEAVE? Or do we have what it takes to indicate to someone as well that the time has come either for them to LEAVE or maybe for you to LEAVE? I wonder to myself if part of the challenge is that when we ask someone to LEAVE or we ourselves choose to LEAVE that there is a feeling of abandonment that is a part of the struggle. It is really the removal of the person from your presence. It is a cutting off; a disconnection of some sort. And although LEAVING in some form is a natural part of the process of growth that takes place in our lives, part of the problem comes when the LEAVING is initiated by us and quite possibly before the person may be ready to accept the reality that comes with LEAVING. But that should not deter us from LEAVING is LEAVING is required and in fact necessary.
Remember that when Christ calls us to faithful discipleship it demands LEAVING some things and some people in order to answer that call. God called Abraham to LEAVE his homeland and take a journey of faith. Jesus called Peter, James and John to LEAVE the fishing business and embark on a new fishing expedition. Jesus knew firsthand the pain associated with LEAVING and so he promised his followers that he would not LEAVE them comfortless but that he would send another Comforter whose presence will be forever. But even Jesus had to say to his followers, it’s time for me to LEAVE. But is it time for you to say to somebody to LEAVE? Or is it time for you to say to others, “I’m LEAVING?” Either may be difficult! But when the time has come to LEAVE, there’s only one thing to do – LEAVE! Today God may be saying to you, don’t linger any longer! LEAVE!
Mikie Roberts (Rev)
HereÂ’s the link for the blog. Join in the discussions.
http://moravians.net/serendipity/index.php?/categories/1-Friday-Focus
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