A Light in the Window

A Light in the Window
Susan Hoyle, pastor Trinity United Methodist Church

Spring is almost here. Oh, how we enjoy the sunny, warmer days. But we also know that March brings unpredictable weather. There can be sunshine one day and snow flurries the next day. Let’s see, is the old saying, “March comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion” or is it “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb?” No matter which way it is, we know what it means, don’t we? There will be changing weather.

But the weather isn’t the only change that happens in our lives. Changes happen all the time whether we’re ready for them or not. The trouble is we are a people of habit. Even if our habits are a bit boring, they are comfortable. We probably get up about the same time each morning and get ready for our day in about the same way. We like some things that we don’t have to think much about. But then a change happens and we’re not so comfortable any longer. Why can’t things just be the same as they always have been, whether in our families, our jobs, our communities or our churches?

Changes happen because we’re not supposed to get too comfortable and take things for granted. We may get so comfortable that we don’t see the new things that are all around us, things that God wants us to see. You know, take a risk, step out in faith, get out of that comfortable place and follow. Isn’t that what Jesus offered 2000 years ago and continues to offer us today? “Follow me.” It wasn’t follow me and this is exactly what will happen. There were just two words, follow me.

Well, we want to follow Jesus but that takes courage. And we want comfortable, don’t we? We say we want to follow but Jesus can ask so much of us. We’ve got so many things to do that following that risky Jesus takes too much of our energy and time. And besides that, He doesn’t always give us His plan and we are supposed to follow Him in faith without knowing what lies ahead. C’mon, nobody really expects that of us, do they?

During this season of Lent we wait for the hallelujahs of Palm Sunday. Yet, the day after Palm Sunday begins Holy Week and then Good Friday. Lent is a time of self-reflection, looking inside of ourselves to see who we are and Who we belong to. And that takes courage and we may need to make some changes as we walk closer to the One who says, “Follow me.” There’s that change word again. The word that holds so much meaning and sometimes so many feelings like fear, anxiety and mistrust.

As we walk closer to Holy Week and Good Friday, perhaps we can take some time to think about our relationship with Jesus; how we can be open to the changes that He invites us to experience. Jesus asked His disciples 2000 years ago to follow without knowing the exact way they would go. And He asks us the same question today. Will we say “yes, Jesus we will follow You?” My prayer is that each one of us will step out and take risks to follow the One who took all the risk for us. Amen.