follow me

Opening Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I am still so divided.  I truly want to follow you, but I also want to follow my own desires and lend an ear to the voices that speak about prestige, success, popularity, pleasure, power, and influence.  Help me to become deaf to those voices and more attentive to your voice, which calls me to choose the narrow road to life.  I know this will be a very hard road for me.  The choice for your way has to be made every moment of my life.  I have to choose thoughts that are your thoughts, words that are your words, and actions that are your actions.  There are no times and places without choices.  And I know how deeply I resist choosing you.  Please, Lord, be with me at every moment and in every place.  Give me the strength and courage to live my life faithfully, so that I will be able to taste with joy the new life which you have prepared for me.  Amen. (The Road to Daybreak by Henri J.M. Nouwen)

Scripture: John 21:18-19

Journal: Where and how is God leading you to places that you would rather not go?  What does following Jesus look like for you these days?

Reflection:

     follow me

someone else will dress you

and lead you where

you do not want to go

jesus said this to indicate

the kind of death

by which peter would 

glorify god

then he said

follow me

the aged 

it seems

are our guides

providing an image

of what it looks like

to really follow you 

lord jesus

it is a life

of total dependence 

and complete surrender

a life where

i can do nothing

apart from you

i go nowhere

unless you push me

i wear nothing

unless you dress me

i eat nothing

unless you feed me

i am only clean

when you bathe me

this is the life

you want for me

this is what it looks like

to really follow you

give me the grace

and the courage

to do so

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me the courage and the faith to truly follow you, wherever it may lead, whatever it might cost.  Let me give myself fully to your care and your control.  For your glory.  Amen.