It's a Life

"He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, 'Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.'" - Mark 8:34-35

I don't usually remember my dreams - I chalk it up to a combination of children awake in the middle of the night and not going to bed when I should. So when I do have dreams that I remember, I always try to pay attention to them. Not that I believe I'm fortunate enough to be spoken to in dreams, but as a way to figure out what my mind is chewing on during it's idle time.

Last night, I had a dream I remembered. It was very short, and quite depressing. I was near the end of my life (for some unknown reason), and I was reflecting on what a hopeless situation it was. I knew my end was near, and there was nothing I could do about it. I spent the entirety of my dream feeling sad and alone, which meant I woke up feeling the same way (maybe that's why I don't dream).

I felt that way until I had awaken a bit more, and remembered that, no matter what, there's someone waiting for me when I pass on. That I don't have to feel sad, depressed or alone, because I believe in Jesus, and that he will lead me on when my time comes.

And I think that's half of what Jesus is talking about at the end of these verses - that if you follow him, you have no reason to worry about losing your life. But there's another angle taken here - one that has less to do with the final moments of a life, and more to do with the days, weeks, months and years leading up to that moment. That the choices we make - which define the life that we lead - are what count. That we have to be willing to give up our old lives and take up a new one following Jesus's words. And if we do that - if we're willing to sacrifice those days, weeks, months and years, we have nothing to fear when our physical life ends. Because, by doing so, we live a life that can harmlessly pass this to the next - and we know what awaits us.

It's a tough thing to do - certainly one that I've failed at numerous times. But by trying to life in that new life every day, we strengthen our life with God. Forever.