John 12:21. [The Greeks said], “Sir we wish to see Jesus.”
We want to share a story about something that happened to
John as told by him.
Last year, I received an unexpected call that changed my
life. The call came from a professional colleague (We’ll call her “Amy”), a
successful real estate broker, inquiring on behalf a personal friend about a
property we owned. For professional reasons, Amy didn’t mention her friend’s
name, but mentioned her client/friend was a therapist in Seattle who had just
retired from a long and very successful practice of giving professional advice,
often to many well-known people in our region. I said something like “Wow, it
must be interesting to have such a friend. I’m sure she has some amazing
insights after such a career.” Without hesitation, Amy replied, “Oh yes, my
friend, when reflecting over her 35 years of work, told me that she could
distill her advice to virtually every client to three simple words.. ‘Let – it
– go.’” At once, I was taken aback, realizing what an amazing statement I had
just heard. These three words still resonate with me.
Can we “let go” of our past and current hurts, pains and
desires during this Lenten season? How about starting right now by identifying
just one? Trish and I acknowledge from personal experience just how difficult
this can be, but scripture tells us we can, and when we do, there is immense
freedom and peace….Wow, freedom and peace!
“Sir, we would like to see Jesus” is what some Greeks said
to Philip while Jesus was making his triumphant ride on a donkey to Jerusalem,
knowing of his imminent death. Why do you think they wanted to see him?
Scripture tells us one of the reasons was because Jesus had literally brought
Lazarus back from the dead. And what was Jesus’ immediate response to the
Greeks’ request after first foretelling of his death? Essentially Jesus said we
must all “let go” and die to self and follow him.
Lenten season is a reminder for Trish and me to “let go,”
not just of our hurts and pains, but also of our lives for Jesus, so that
perhaps we can see Him, the ultimate expression of freedom and peace.
—John
& Trish Heller
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