A Ragamuffin's Trust

One of the biggest challenges we face as disciples of Jesus is trust. Being in a place of trust where we live with our hands off the wheel goes against our nature. I have grabbed the wheel out of Jesus hands so many times I lost count long ago. He still waits patiently though until I turn control over once again. We will never enter into a place of trust until we admit we have control issues. We like to control our life. We think we need to take charge of our spiritual development and discipline ourselves to the point of making things happen. Jesus says "Just trust me, and I'll do the rest". I promise you He knows where we need to go. Don't try to force your life to be what you want. We have no power to do so and we just make a mess of things.

I wanted to share a quote here from Brennan's book for ragamuffins like me. Our desire and attempts to control our own life is like trying to make the sun rise or a flower bloom. It is His place to perfect our life and complete the work which He has begun within us. All we need to do is trust in Him.

The Indian poet Tagore wrote ...

"No, it is not yours to open buds into blossom. Shake the bud, strike it, it is beyond your power to make it blossom. Your touch soils it. You tear its petals to pieces and strew them in the dust, but no colors appear and no perfume. Ah, it is not for you to open the bud into blossom. He who can open the bud does it so simply. He gives it a glance and the life sap stirs through it's veins. At his breath the flower spreads it's wings and flutters in the wind. Colors flush out like heart longings the perfume betrays a sweet secret. He who can open the bud does it so simply."

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