just let go...

The title of this post is one of the most difficult things to do. Can you remember a time in your life that you held onto the past?

It makes me laugh every time I think about it. What is "it"? The movie Napoleon Dynamite. For those that have seen the movie, you might roll your eyes or laugh, can remember the scene that I am about to describe. The main character, Napoleon, has an uncle... Uncle Rico. Uncle Rico is this man that has no life, or so it seems. We do know that he likes to film himself throwing a football and he lives in a van. Uncle Rico is talking to his nephew, kip, at the time. He is remembering, with such resentment, of the year 1982. If only the coach had put him in, 4th quarter of the high school state championship game, they would of won. He even makes the statement that he could through a football over the mountains in the distance.

Crazy, right? Of course it is. He is a grown adult that is talking about going back to be a high school football star. Do not get me wrong, I enjoy football, but to go back and relive "the glory days". In this story you find out that he thinks, just by being put in the game, he would of gone onto bigger and better things. We are all like this, are we not?

Keep thinking about the past.

There is a movie that just came out on DVD this last month called "Love Happens". In the very beginning of the movie we have Burke, played by Aaron Erckheart. Now Burke is a handsome man that enjoys a drink. He is a motivational speaker and helps people overcome loss in their lives. We find out (sorry a spoiler) that Burke lost his wife in a terrible car accident 3 years prior. The interesting thing is, while Burke is helping others he never helps himself. He never really gets over the loss of his wife. It is eating him alive. He speaks of drinking only being a band-aid on an open wound, it never really helps but helps hide the hurt. He doesnt even follow his own advise that has helped thousands but he is drinking, alone, and hurting.

In our lives we feel alone... dont we? So many times we hold onto such hurt, pain, anger, loss, tragedy and animosity towards people or situations. I am not saying to get over it right away because that would be wrong as well, we all need time to grieve and to process all that is going on.

In John 4, we find Jesus needing to go to Galilee from Judea. In between these to areas was the area of Samaria. During this time the Samaritans were not usually look highly upon by the Jewish culture. But Jesus needed to make his destination. While walking through this area he stops at a well. The odd part of the story is a woman. She is there at the well by herself and she was a Samaritan. Women in that day and age were not spoken to by men... even husbands would not address their wives in public. But Jesus spoke to the woman, mind you Jesus is a Jew and the woman is a Samaritan. This is like, the mermaids in the movie little mermaid speaking to human. It just does not happen. What Jesus does is fascinating to me. He ask for water.

He ask her for some water. Out of all the things he does, he ask for water. This is a simple task but a profound one. Christ was crossing not only cultural boundaries but country borders and political stigmas, just by asking for water. Then woman spoke to him. They go on a little dialog hunt. She doesnt understand what he is saying but water that is everlasting. So Jesus does something else that it is truly amazing. He exposes her past. He shows her that he knows things that the average person let alone a Jew would know of her. She has five husbands, and the one she is with now is not her husband. Crazy...

This would freak me out. Just think your walking up to the local watering hole and this man is speaking to you, ask for some water and then exposes one your darkest secrets!!!!

Wild. Anyway back to the story at hand. The woman thinks he is a prophet or someone that can see the past or the future. Which then brings her to the topic of religion. Another heavy topic amongst people groups. These can be build into hate arguments with people. People lose friends over this topic. She, the woman at the well, speaks of how the Samaritans worship on mountains and the Jews in the the temple. I think this was her way of saying that the Jews do worship their way and the Samaritans do it a different. But Jesus says the second most profound thing, soon the true worshipers will worship. Then she says well I know there is this messiah that is coming... Jesus reply's "I am HE".

So... many times we let the past effect who we are now. In this story, which I encourage you to read (john 4), the woman is alone at the well. She is an outcast amongst her own people. Remember the Jews at the time did not associate with Samaritans, this woman was alone. We find out she has five husband and she is with one that is not her husband. She is an out cast. She knows what she has done is wrong and she has let the things of her past control her situation in the present. But then Jesus comes along, crosses cultures and borders to talk to her. He exposes her past and lets her know she can be free from this through Him.

I challenge you that are Christians to cross borders and boundaries... to go your neighbor, jobs, the town next to you, the state or even across the world to let people know that there is someone that can forgive you of your past. Now if your not a Christian... Take the time search out Christ. It doesn't matter what you have done... He forgives.

Matthew 11:28 -- Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

until next time...