Free

So…..I’m driving to work and stop at a red light.  A bee lands on the hood of my car, right in front of me….on the edge next to the windshield.  He walks around….doing whatever bees do when they land on something other than a flower.  The light turns green and I start up. Instead of flying off, what does he do?  He hunkers down …bracing himself.  The wind gets 40…45…50mph.  Does he give up? No!  He’s that much more determined NOT to be blown off.  A few miles down the road, I stop again.  Does he take the opportunity to fly off? Nope!  Once again, the wind starts blowing as I accelerate from the green light.  Once again, he gets really low.  His wings are flapping wildly in the wind. But he’s that much more determined to stay the course.  Finally, the third time I stop…MILES from where he lived.  He flies off.

Now, I’m thinking back at the hive:  Other bees are saying “Hey, where’s Ralph?”  And Ralph is thinking, “Now, where is that hive? This doesn’t look familiar!”

But then, watching this, I started thinking.  I’m like that bee sometimes.  Some things blow my way…and it would have been so easy to just let go….let it go on passed me… let me “bee” on my merry way…   But no! I hunker down. Worry about it! Fret over it! “Why is this happening?” Meanwhile, I’m getting carried in thought WAY down the road from where I need to be. Distracted. Ruffled. Beaten.

Now, there ARE some things we have to weather.  There ARE storms that we MUST plant our feet firmly on the ground and say “I will NOT be shaken!”  Winds that try our faith. Storms that test our resolve to the Lord, to our family, and to our very character.

But I’m talking about those “irritations.”  A word thoughtlessly spoken to us.  A “perceived” slight.  Someone acts in a way that is not the way WE think they should act. A hundred of those blow our way every day!  Instead of dwelling on these things, we need to just let it blow passed us and be free.

Now, I’m a pilgrim on this road too.  Pray for me.  I know you thought I was perfect…and I am….I have ONE fault.  I LIE!  Last week, I had made a hospital visit and I was going to an appointment.  Shaun, Adam, Leigh Anne and I were on a conference call working out something for a worship service. I was driving, listening…but not thinking they could hear me also.  I came to a place where two lanes go into one. The people in the other lane were racing up blocking me from getting in the lane.  So, under my breath, I started “Oh, yeah! You’re going to be a jerk! REALLY?! OK just be a jerk”  Then, Shaun said “Having a little road rage, are you, Glenn?” Oops!  See…now you know how much you need to pray for me!

If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.¹ Free to do whatever you want? NO! Free to believe whatever you want to believe? Certainly NOT!  Free from our sins? YES!  But also free to be who God created us to be…free from worry and distress.  Free to show God’s love to those around us…without carrying unnecessary baggage.  Free to see others…as well as ourselves…the way God sees.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.²   Let’s ask the Lord to help our hearts and our minds to be free.  Firmly committed to Him. Unwavering in our faith. Free from distractions.

Glenn Crosthwait
Worship Pastor
Johns Creek Baptist Church

¹John 8:36
²2 Corinthians 3:17