Weak

Mumford and Sons recently put out a new song  titled "I Will Wait". It is actually a new version of an earlier untitled song. I have been listening to it frequently this past week. I have no idea what is behind the song; like much of their music it is likely about a relationship but could also be a spiritually oriented song about a relationship with the Lord. That is the beauty of a well crafted song - it can mean so many things depending on the listener.

Two images connect with me. The first is a picture of weakness, giving up control of my life, coming to that place of complete inability - surrendering. The second picture in the song is one of resolve - a decision to move ahead in a whole new way. I guess it is the presentation of that tension that the song seems to capture for me that got my attention. Embracing absolute brokenness and weakness and at the same time pressing forward with hope and life. As a child of God I can step forward because I can trust in the strength that only rests in Him. Isaiah 40 describes us like the grass of the field but the Lord is the One whose strength never fails. It is a hard place to live - completely weak and yet moving out into all the places he calls us to - hard, yes - and also life giving and full and beautiful.

Leaving

Tomorrow my oldest daughter leaves home to attend Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She has been a joy and it was great having her at home this past year as she worked and attended the local community college. I came home late from a meeting last night to see the living room covered in all her things as she organized them and began packing it all up for the move east. How do you send one of your kids off? How do you really release them? What do you say and feel and do? Of course, this has been the goal all along and I trust we have prepared her for this next great step, yet in the moment it comes, what does a parent do?

I was reminded of Jesus this morning and his farewell to the disciples. His prayer in John 14-17 shows a bit of how He sent them off to their next step. It was actually quite simple. He expressed His love, He prayed for the Spirit's work in them, He warned them of things to come, He encouraged them in the Lord and He served them. You can feel His love for them in His prayer and even sense His desire not to be parted from them ... even so,  He loves, prays, encourages, serves... and then He releases them to the awesome things for which God had prepared them.

My prayer for my daughter as she steps "apart" from us is that she will know the key for living as Jesus shared it in John 15

 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in Him,

he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."