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Devotional & Reflection
Colossians 3:2 - Letting Go Colossians 3:2 "Set your minds on things
above, not on earthly things." It was a long, bright red scarf, with two white stripes and the words
"Bayern Munich" emblazoned in the centre. I wasn't a fan of the
football club, having little idea about the sports. I bought the scarf at the
Munich Olympics Stadium at the urging of a friend who brought me there to
watch a football match. For many years since then, I had taken it with me
each time I went on a winter trip. Then I lost it in Beijing last November. My heart ached over the loss of the scarf. I regretted being careless
and wished dearly I had my scarf back. It held treasured memories of my four
months' stay in Munich. It reminded me of my friend who had watched over me
there. I kept thinking of my scarf, till one day, the thought occurred to me
- if I can't let go of a scarf, how can I let go of the things in this world?
How can I receive the blessings of the things above if I cannot let go of the
things below? Jesus' disciples let go of all they had to follow him. Peter, James,
John and others left their families and a livelihood in fishing to be with
Jesus. In one of Jesus' parables, the man who found a hidden treasure in a
field let go of everything he had to buy the field. In another parable, a merchant
let go of everything he had to possess a pearl of great value. Letting go is necessary, so we can empty ourselves of the old to
receive the new. When we are full of old hurts and fears, there is no room
for new joys and pleasures. In a recent discussion with a friend who was
weighed down by emotional baggage accumulated over the years, I wondered
whether her letting go of the encumbrances of her heart and mind would help
her cope with the many changes that overwhelm her now. There is a cost in letting go. We may suffer separation anxiety when
we no longer have the comfort of the life, the things, the people we are used
to. We risk a little of our heart dying, for nothing may replace that which
we treasure but choose to release. When we let go and leave our comfort zone
to venture into unfamiliar ground, we may encounter bumps of all kinds and
get bruised along the way. Shall we then hold on to all things? If we did, we may miss the
greater blessings that await us. And for as long as we do not let go of our
encumbrance, it takes control of a part of us. Let us choose to surrender
control to our Lord, to empty ourselves of the hindrances in our lives, so
that we may live more fruitfully, for His glory. Reflect: Copyright By Author |
