I found a great technique for getting my two independent, strong willed grandchildren to do what I want them to be doing. It's one of many in my great big Mary Poppins bag of tricks. On every adventure to the park, I pull it out and enlist it's charm. The littlest one likes to walk through the desert to get to the park. This is the long way. It usually means that by the time we corral them to the grassy field of the park, the slides and swings a mere dot on the other end of the park, my grand daughter will ask me to carry her because as she says, "that was a lot of ups and downs the hill and my feet are tired." Big brother on the other hand, wants to walk the shortcut down the street. He knows this battle for the journey is coming as he maneuvers his position to be the first one out the door. He also knows that once his sister runs from the door and around the house to the desert, we will all have to follow. Safety reasons and all.
So I pull out the "follow the leader" card. I start to sing "Following the leader", and big brother who is out the door first assumes the position of leader. The little one follows in behind and viola we are on the short path. It works because she loves to do what big brother is doing, and she is two and so very easily distracted........
This trick also works for the walk home. The one minute walk can easy take 25 minutes as they dilly dally around pointing at every flower, bug, tree and piece of dog poop. Before I realized the genius of my little trick it was hard to keep their feet moving forward. Squirrel..?
So the other day I was on some of my own rabbit trails of the mind. It seemed I was taking the long way, and being distracted at every turn. I was tired and I definitely wanted someone to carry me. For some reason that song, "follow the leader" popped into my head. I realized that I wasn't following what God tells me is true, but instead following negative fears that took a detour into self doubt.
In the bible the word follow comes from the Hebrew word radaph — which means “to pursue, to set off after someone in order to catch him.” I always thought of following as a passive move and definitely a submissive one.
When Jesus said, "come and follow me, and I will make you fishers of men," (Mathew 4:19) that was an invitation. He is inviting us to take the better path, one that leads to more joy, more purpose, and more hope. He is also asking us to pursue him. Not slowly but to chase him. Sometimes it is so easy to follow Jesus. When he leads me to more fulfillment in my life, better relationships and better circumstances there is a spring in my step and I gladly follow. However, when God leads me down a difficult path exposing my weaknesses, I dilly dally behind distracting myself with anything I can. It's uncomfortable to follow a leader that appears to be taking you through the brier patch. But in 1 Peter 2:21, it says, "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." I get it now. Sometimes God will walk us through the tough terrain of life for his own good. Sometimes I tend to be so short sighted that I cant see what God sees. Even in this I am called to chase God.
Jesus often referred to himself as a shepherd. A shepherd leads his sheep to keep them from danger. In John 10:27 it says, "my sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me." When Jesus says, "he knows them" he means that he knows them by name, individually and intimately. We are not anonymous or lost in the flock. It's like waiting for the long line of graduates to walk by, and then you see your own beautiful child. You recognize them, you know their features, you see the reflection of your love in their eyes, your heart beats faster, and you claim them. Jesus knows you just like that. He pursues you, searches the crowd for your face and claims you.
I will continue to sing "following the leader" to my grandchildren. But now it will serve as a constant reminder that I will be following Jesus. No scratch that, I will be pursuing Jesus. It won't always be easy, but I will remember that when I follow him "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. " Psalm 23:6. How awesome is it to know that goodness and mercy will be pursuing and chasing me not merely lagging behind? Who is up for a game of follow the leader?