Underground ReLOVEution

resolved: i will not compulsively share my problems with every single person i pass on the street.

Okay, so I read this quote in Pilgrim's Progress. One man is showing another man a picture of Jesus and says this to him:

"...the man whose picture this is [Jesus] is the only man whom the Lord of the place whither thou art going [heaven], hath authorized to be thy guide in all difficult places thou may'st meet with in the Way: wherefore take good heed to what I have showed thee, and bear well in thy mind what thou hast seen; lest in thy journey thou meet with some that pretend to lead thee right, but their way goes down to death."

I know the English is funny and it may not make sense out of context. But here's the bottom line...

At a certain point in our life we get a glimpse a picture of Jesus and this is what God says: See this guy? This is the one you want to follow. Sometimes a thousand voices will flood your mind with bucketloads of advice and opinions. Plug your ears, turn down the volume. Let the periphery fade to fuzz as you focus singly on him. He's your travel guide in this life. Your *only* leader.

I have been listening to lots of sermons and reading a ton of books lately in order to become wise about life. I want to know everything so that I don't make any mistakes. I'm searching out every potential problem before it even happens so that I might avoid it when the time comes. Stress! Panic! This approach doesn't lead me to God's peace. It just makes me want to pull my hair out. Or become a cow. Cows seem to have really uncomplicated lives.

I'm able to breathe so much easier when I realize once again that I'm accountable to Jesus. *Only* to Jesus. I don't have to please everyone. Just him. At a certain point I can choose to consider and then respectfully ignore the opinions of others and instead shut myself up in my room with Jesus. I get to leave everyone else outside the door as I lay myself down on the carpet and breathe. Just me and him. This is what the whole "easy yoke, light burden" thing is all about.

Pursue God only. Listen to his words to you. Press into him in quiet places and live directly from what he puts in your heart. Don't be swayed or confused.

We have only one Guide.