Following

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. Matthew 4:18-25

Following Christ often means leaving familiar and comfortable places and people. I write from Nashville having just arrived for the House of Bishops. God calls us all to be on the move despite what we find best for us. Living for God means living and moving beyond our comfort zones, stumbling as we go, with many ups and downs along the road.

The first disciples were born and raised by the sea. As they grew into adulthood they took their proper places alongside their fathers, hauling and mending nets, learning every inch of the sea. They knew the tides and seasons as well as they knew themselves. Then Jesus came along and took them far away, to dry, arid places, to cities and strange lands. Often they tripped over each other and themselves, trying to stay up and learn beyond their understanding. God invites us to move beyond our safe and comfortable places. Our securities keep us from the love of others and act as shelter from the world. God invites us out into the world again.

Today I ask God to help me leave comfort behind and move out into the world again. May we follow where we are lead, aware of our stumbling and need for growth, willing to be foolish for the love of the world, today.