Leave it With Them
AM Psalm [83] or 23, 27 • PM Psalm 85, 86
Joel 2:21-27 • James 1:1-15 • Luke 15:1-2,11-32
There are a couple of people in my life who I think of as my MVPs. Trustworthy, steady, and brilliant, they are friends or friendly acquaintances in whom I feel confident placing my trust. I know that if I need help with a creative project, or work challenge, or a home improvement…thing (I’m not handy. I don’t even have the language), I can call on one of these folks to advise me, and if I’m really in a pickle, they’ll say, “leave it with me.” And I do. I leave whatever I can’t quite figure out with them and get on with my day, knowing that the outcome will be just fine.
I aspire and work hard to be this way—an experienced, poised “leave it with me” type of person, or as James describes in the reading from today, “mature and complete” (1:4). In the context of the scripture, James is referring to the growth we experience through weathering trials faithfully, trusting G_d to see us through. This is where it gets a little sticky for me. Here is more of the scripture:
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
I learned to turn my problems over to my Creator early in life. Actually, I should say that I was taught to do that—I’m still truly learning. A pivotal moment of my spiritual life was when, in a conversation about some long-forgotten conflict I was facing, my mother advised me to go to Mass and when I received the Eucharist, to put that conflict and all of the worries that attended it in the cup—the chalice holding the Communion wine. I did that, and it gave me relief. Something about attaching a concrete action to the process of surrender made it all feel more meaningful.
Remembering to surrender is challenging for me; my brain likes to make a big deal out of solving every problem and being self-sufficient. Leaving my challenges and questions “in the cup” is where I really struggle, though. I bug G_d about issues constantly, something I’d not soon do with a friend or colleague I’d asked for help.
It goes something like this: “Um, hey G_d! Please don’t forget that I’d really like to know what to do about x,y, and z, okay? Don’t forget! I’ll be waiting! Also, please remember that I’d like to figure out a way to do (or get, or have) this thing that I REALLY WANT but I haven’t heard from You about that yet. Still waiting! Please don’t forget that I REALLY WANT THIS, okay?” Just totally insufferable and the opposite of the way I could handle this. I could simply leave it with Them.
There is grace, though. Moments when I’m spinning and all of a sudden think, ask G_d to help you. Moments when I’m able to ask for help and keep it moving, attending to the next thing in front of me, leaving it with the real MVP (forgive, me—I had to!)
Written by Jane V. Blunschi
Jane is a writer and teacher living in Fayetteville, Arkansas.