Where are you headed?

We are all following someone.  Even the most independent people among us are following someone or at least the patterns of someone in our past or present.  For me, I follow Jesus…at least I genuinely desire to and try to, but I know that fall far short.  There are others that I follow.  In some ways I follow the paths of my predecessors, former bosses and supervisors.  In other ways I follow friends and colleagues.  Additionally, I still find myself following the ways of my parents. 

For example, I follow the ways of Pastor Phil, my predecessor, by keeping Dawn, (the Church Secretary and overall brains of the church), busy with solving all of my technical issues and computer problems.  I follow the ways of Dave, my previous cabinet shop supervisor, by continuing to implement the many lessons learned while working under him many years ago.  I follow the ways of my parents, by learning to do anything that is worth doing by constantly expanding my DIY abilities.  This creates some marital strife when I cannot keep up with the growing needs of tasks that must either be done or hired out.  Since I am unwilling to hire anything out…I will pause now and go and unclog the basement washtub sink….

…

…I’m back and pleased to report that the sink is now flowing.  Apparently, a number of mysterious rubber bands had found their way into the sink drain.  Why?  How? When?  These are questions that still remain and I may never obtain answer to. 

Likewise, I believe that in the same way that we are all following someone…there is another someone or some ones, who are following us.  I gotta be honest.  This second belief stresses me out more than the prior.  In the prior, I get to choose who I follow and what I do.  In the later, I don’t necessarily get to choose as to who will be following me, which makes who I am following all the more vital. 

In Matthew 20:17-28, we find Jesus revealing once again where he is heading and in turn what it means to follow him.  As he lays this out before his followers, it becomes clear that to follow him means sacrifice.  In a culture and a society that doesn’t embrace well the depth of self sacrifice, may we see Jesus’ example…follow him…knowing that others will be following us.  I think that this is the reality that could turn this world upside down!