Everything Else

Everything Else

Returning to life after the Pandemic has felt a little like emerging from a cave. I’m finding that I’m not the same person who went into it in March of 2020. I wonder if maybe you’re feeling the same?

As I’m emerging into the daylight I’m looking at what used to fill my days, my life. I’m evaluating each piece instead of blindly adding it back. I’d say the same is true in my spiritual life. What has held true? What has remained steadfast? What has stood strong?

I can tell you unwaveringly for myself, there is one thing, the most important thing, that has remained. This is Jesus.

In the strangeness of the past 14 months, as life screeched to a snail’s pace, while division grew strong in our country, Jesus remained.

I’ve thought and prayed about this. What about everything else? And here’s where I’ve landed. Jesus is enough. Period.

Everything else is just that, everything else. An addition, whether that be something that enhances our relationship with Jesus or binds it. Everything else isn’t necessary. Jesus is necessary.

Of course WE are different. Of course our life looks different. Of course the things we choose to add back are different.

The book of Galatians begins with the following, “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.” Gal 1:3-4 (CSB)

Lord, help us to put You first in all things, and to remember that everything else is secondary. You are enough. 

This struck me as something that could have been written today. It’s eye opening to realize this letter from Paul was written in early AD 50’s! The divide and clinging to one side or the other feels evil. It also feels new, but it isn’t. What if we as Christinas cling to Jesus, and try to walk in his way? What if we are willing to be different? To lay down what divides us and to cling to the truth that unifies us.

I encourage you, if you are struggling with what to add back, to begin with what is true.

Jesus.

Begin with a conversation. Just you and Him.

He is enough.