Posted by: Shirley Smith on Fri, Oct 21, 2022
Matthew 8:19-20
A scribe then approached and said, "Teacher, 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." Matthew 8:19-20 (NRSV)
For a young woman who "woke up to Jesus" in my mid to late twenties, these words were among the first that really jumped out at me when I started reading the Bible. In my case one thing was clear: following Jesus meant waking up-the opposite of putting your head down. Jesus was giving me the ability to be aware as I went through every life experience, but this meant I could no longer dodge difficult truths by being in denial or avoid confrontation by going along with something that I knew in my heart was not right.
Today, many years after I first work up, I hear something else too. I'm getting ready for a road trip visiting friends, as I make my way through beautiful New England. The images of the fox burrowing in his hole and the bird settling into her cozy nest remind me that I will miss how easy it is to fall asleep in my own bed. In the road, sleep itself is part of the adventure; going to bed at night has an uncertain quality to it. For me it doesn't always translate in to a good night's sleep.
But I am more than willing to give up this comfort of home as I head out on my travels. Jesus is saying, "Follow Me," and I'm ready to go! As I spend time in nature, encounter new experiences, and reconnect with treasured friends, I hope to be awake to whatever graces and truths Jesus wishes to bestow upon me. - Elizabeth Berne DeGear
Faith Step: Take some time to ask yourself: Is there some area of my life where I still hide from Jesus? Is that part of me ready to wake up and follow Him?
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