Today’s scripture:  John 12:20-26

For two and a half glorious years, I was an only child. I don’t really remember these two and half years but I believe they were pretty great.  I had my parents all to myself.  I was the cute one. I had my grandparents all to myself.  Very little competition (although there was an Irish Setter who was a bit of competition at the time).  While I don’t really remember those years, I do remember just ever so slightly the day it all changed and my little brother Grant was born.  As the story goes, I went over to my grandparents house and sat in my grandma’s lap all. day. long.  I was not budging. In that moment, I was still the only one. I was still the center of the universe.

Then for a few more years (3ish) the world was ok.  I had to share with someone else in the family but two seemed doable. I could still boss the one around.  We only had to share stuff between the two of us.  We moved into a new house and had our own rooms.  Awwww…that was the life.  And then the world changed again.  I remember pretty clearly when Andrew was born.  By this time, it wasn’t as crazy of a world mix up but it was somewhat of an adjustment.  Andrew was pretty darn cute.  He was a chubby blonde baby that turned into a very cute little kid with blond hair and a high voice.  This seemed to work for a few more years…..

And then the world turned upside down and changed one more time.  I was hopeful for a baby sister although I think secretly I liked the idea of being the only girl. I could keep some of my ego in tact as being special in the world. 🙂  Colin was born in the middle of the night.  We woke up and had a new baby brother.  I was a little bit older this time around and was used to having brothers.  Colin was adorable and this time I could admire the fact that he had the most adorable curls.  He is still pretty cute although hates when I say this about him (he is now a grown man he reminds me).

My point is this….every time someone was added to my life, my life was not the same.  It completely transformed. I was not the same.  It couldn’t help but change pretty drastically.  Our life as a family changed in new and different ways.  We had to adjust to a growing family.  We had to adjust to who had what space and how to life together in that new configuration.  I had to learn again how to share my room with the baby and then I swapped rooms with the boys so I could have my own room.  And then we remodeled the house to fit all of us.  And then one by one we have been leaving that same house to go to our own transforming lives.  Our lives are constantly changing and much of the time it is about who is in it at that time.

This scripture lesson has always boggled my mind because Jesus tells us that by him being in our lives, we will lose our lives.  Say what??? But when you think about it, it makes perfect sense….by Jesus coming into our lives, our lives are blown open to not center around us anymore.  When Grant was born, the world wasn’t just about me anymore.  When I follow Jesus, I can’t help but notice all around me….the poor, the marginalized, the hungry, the cold, etc.  I lose my live because I realize it is no longer just about me.  It can’t be just by the very nature that Jesus is in it.  My life is blown open to serve others, to listen to others, to work and serve with all people to restore all of creation to God’s loving embrace.  By saying yes to that…by saying yes to Holy Week…my life is no longer mine.  If I love my life, I lose it because it is so changed by those in it.  It now belongs to you…and you…and you…and you….

So who has changed your world? Who has transformed it so that you no longer are just about you? Who have you said yes to this week? And where will your life transform?

Peace,

C