Say Yes

Say Yes

My wife and I are different in many ways. Mostly it is a really good thing. I think a lot of our differences compliment.

Every once in a while we have the same habit that manifests itself in two different ways. My wife multi-tasks, which means she does more than one thing at a time. It can be both amazing and frustrating. I don’t multi-task. I channel surf. I watch several shows and several story lines at nearly the same time. It seems to be equally frustrating to Karen. I think that makes us even.

The other night I was channel surfing and saw just a few minutes of a movie titled Yes Man. Jim Carrey plays a man who lives a very cautious life. He ends up at a self-help seminar where the guru makes him covenant to say “yes” to everything. He commits to do just that. As soon as he walks out of the seminar he is approached by a homeless man who asks for a ride. Jim Carrey reluctantly says “yes.” The homeless guy eventually asks to use his cell phone, running down the battery, and then asks for money and at each juncture Jim Carrey hesitates and then says, “yes.” He ends up in the middle of nowhere, with a dead cell phone, no money, and no idea what to do. And the adventure begins. Eventually it leads him to life, real life.

I found it fascinating.

Nearly every decent storyline is borrowed from the Bible. Stories need to strike a chord deep down inside of us in order to be interesting. That’s why so many movies are about justice or redemption or faith or love or adventure.

This storyline had to do with discipleship. Jim Carrey met a guru who claimed to have the secret to real life if he would only trust him. The instruction was simple. Say “yes” to every opportunity that presents itself and trust the process. You will have no idea where it will take you but it will be better than where you have been.

Think of the early disciples of Jesus. They were cleaning their nets when Jesus walked up and gave them a simple invitation. Leave everything you know and come follow me and learn to just say “yes.” They did it and the adventure began.

I decided to follow Jesus many years ago. Saying “yes” to him has taken me all over the world on adventures I talk about around the fire pit at night with my kids. I wonder sometimes how many great adventures I’ve missed by saying “no.”

Here is the question for the day. Are you missing an adventure right now by not saying “yes” to an invitation from Jesus?

http://www.thecommonlanguage.com/ Susan Moore

   A year ago I walked away from a 26 year career as an R.N. I let my license lapse while saying, “Good grief, good-bye and good ridance.” I was angry and burned-out. I believed Jesus was leading me away, that He had an agenda and was eager to show me other things and people. So I went. I’m glad I did. If I had retained my independence as an R.N., I would have never gone, or looked at where and to whom He pointed.
A couple weeks ago, in my joy at being ‘officially’ back at the Hudson campus, I saw in my mind’s eye an envelope sitting next to me with my name on it. So I opened it. It was from Jesus. It said, “Now you are going to reinstate your nursing license, finish your BSN at Indiana Wesleyan University, and take care of Christians in your area.” I was so overjoyed at returning home to the Hudson Campus, that I said, “Ok!” A few days later, when the burning joy had passed, I asked Him if that envelope was from Him or Satan, and if I had signed anything!!
   I decided it was a test. I could be a belligerent jerk and say, “No!”, like I have a lifetime history of saying, or I could reaffirm my, “Yes!” So, I told him I was going full force forward and fully committed, and if that envelope did not come from Him, to block my progress.
So far, He’s not blocking it. I expect it will all play out in His perfect timing exactly the way He wants it to.
   Thanks for listening, Pastor Joe.
   Susan