It’s been a difficult week for me – that’s for sure. A couple of days ago, we moved my Dad into the Hospice unit at Presbyterian Hospital where he continues to steadily gravitate downward. Then we found out that the tumor that was removed from Mom’s brain three weeks ago is back and even larger than it was before the surgery.That’s just a snapshot because each day brought some good news and a good bit of bad news. Needless to say, over the last month or so, my family and I have just been living day-to-day
While that’s what we all have to do from time-to-time, it is not the kind of life God has created for us to live our whole lives. I know there are some who have messed up lives and that they will never be able to live what most would consider a normal life (one that most of our contemporaries live). But, whatever our situation, there is hope for a full life because there is a God who loves us…deeply and intimately.
Today, we begin a new series that will take us through the end of February. The series is about helping us to gain the spiritual, mental, and emotional understanding of a Life Worth Living
Let’s take a look at a passage of scripture that will serve as the basis for this whole series
John 10:10b
My purpose is to give life in all its fullness
Today, we begin with the first part of a Life Worth Living with the premise of “Letting Go.” This topic was planned out for a couple of months now, which just heightens the irony of it all. For me, this principle to “Let Go” is ironic considering all the stuff I have been going through with my parents. Then again, I am beginning to see that it’s not so much irony as it is providence, God’s diving intervention.
To let go is to understand and accept that there are certain aspects of life that, as much as we would like the otherwise, we don’t have any control of. Sometimes, bad things happen. Sometimes, wrong things happen. Sometimes, simply horrible things happen. Sometimes, we just feel at a loss.
In those times, whether they are at the simply annoying stage or the extreme end of debilitating proportions, we have to let go in order to move forward in life.
So, in other words, the purpose of today’s message is to live life with endurance.
Let’s take a look at today’s passage for some insight in today’s proclamation.
Hebrews 12:1-2a
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. [In his translation, The Message, Eugene Peterson calls this parasitic sin] And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.
While there is no real indication of who wrote this epistle (a churchy word for letter) or really who it is written for, there is a clear sign that this letter was written sometime during the first century (by addressing that Timothy was to be released from prison soon). So, through this, we come to get some idea of some of the mindset of the early Christian community.
What is surprising about this is that the author is very cognizant about the fact that, at least in this community of believers, there is some apathy or apostasy (falling away) from the promise of God’s grace and mercy.
That really isn’t all that hard to imagine though, is it? Many times in life, we are faced with situations that simply shake us to our core, and we begin to question even the very tenets of faith.
Let’s take just a moment to journey down this road, okay?
Today, we don’t like to think that we are overwrought with pain, do we? In general, we think those who are wrestling with pain (and we’re talking more than just physical pain) are weak. That’s the way our culture has taught us.
So, whereas not to seem weak, we have changed the terminology – we call this…stress.
Think I’m kidding? Who would like to give me definition of stress? [Allow responses]
Who is under stress now or experiences it at some point or other?
Now, if you want to check out my assertion, go find an old dictionary, one somewhere around seventy years-old or older and look up the definition. You’ll find that stress was then an engineering term, relating to the load or forces that acts upon an object. There was little inference about psychological influence.
Stress comes from multiple areas in our lives
- Pain
o Painful childhood
o Painful Present
o Shame
- Loss of Control
Then, to complicate matters, there is a myriad of ways that we respond to stress.
- Denial – We proclaim the following kinds of statements
o “I can’t believe this is happening” (trying to convince ourselves that what we are experiencing is all a bad dream)
o “It’s alright” (denying that pain is present and acting upon us)
- Then, often, many good-hearted individuals who are not directly involved in the stressful situation (but who are passively dealing with it) will attempt to theologize about it and say something like, “God doesn’t give us more than we can bear” (But that’s crap and unscriptural. Do we really want to believe God is doing this to us?)
Then comes the inevitable Venting stage.
- - Anger (often misdirected)
- - Depression/Desperation (feeling of hopelessness and isolation)
- - Unhealthy ways to cope (spending money needlessly, indulging in drugs, sex,…)
Okay, enough of the psychology course, I think you get the picture. So, let’s look at the theological aspect of letting go.
I believe the author of Hebrews has a good understanding of faith for us to relate to today that will aid us in “letting go” in order to propel us toward a life worth living.
If we go back, just a bit, in Hebrews, we find this verse that encapsulates the essence of the author’s understanding of faith.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
To let go is to deepen our faith in God and allow for healing to take place.
Here are some steps to help us with this healing process:
1. 1. Honesty with yourself – Be open and honest with yourself about what you are going through. Admit to yourself that you are hurting, angry, frustrated…whatever emotion you are trying to hide
2. 2. Honesty with God – Again, be open and honest, this time with God. Express your anger, fear, frustration, even if it means you lay the blame on God. All these emotions are given by God. God’s not going to be surprised or mad at your venting. Get it out. Get it out so you let it go and start healing.
3. 3. Share with others – Too often we try to hide our emotions and close ourselves off to the rest of the world. This isn’t good and it isn’t right. God created us to be in community with one another and to share our burdens and our joys. Coupling this with being honest with God, and thinking of the church as the body of Christ, maybe we can get a new sense of understanding from that old Gospel song, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Do yourself a favor, when you get home, Google that song and then live into it.
4. Build New Coping Skills – As we learned earlier, when we go through some trying times that really wear on us, whether we call it stress or whatever else, we will vent or frustrations at some time. The thing we must do is to figure out what’s best for us. I believe the first three steps is helping to fulfill this fourth one. But there may be some others ways and means too.a. Journaling – Actually, I found just writing this message as a means of catharsis. Writing down your gut feelings is a good way to let go.
b. Other New Habits – What’s some of yours (Allow people to respond)
Letting go is often hard. It might be compared to peeling an onion – through tears, you go one layer at a time.
Let Go, my friends and go for that Life Worth Living. And may God be with you in the journey.
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