Finding Our Way by Letting Go

Joseph Campbell (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Letting go is by far one of the hardest things to do. All of us hold on so tightly to our belongings, our plans and our feelings as a matter of self-preservation. The world is full of uncertainty and disappointment, so we naturally hold on to our little bit of certainty and comfort. The mythologist Joseph Campbell once said, “We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.” He has a very good and thought provoking suggestion in those words. Is it possible that we hold on to our vision so long and so diligently that we miss what God really has in store for us?

Life should be focused on the journey and not the destination, because the journey’s end is often too far away and too difficult. So much of life is missed because we cannot let go of some idea, some broken dream or hurt that tugs on us like a violent undertow of a raging sea. Life should be thought out, planned and lived a day at a time. God has told us in His wisdom that we have no guarantee of tomorrow, so today is the most important day of your life. A question arises now – How do we let go enough to live that day?

Letting go of the planned life and finding what is waiting for us means we must slow down and allow God to speak to and through us.

A few suggestions:

Pray-Meditate-Pause
Interact with people
Eat a good meal
Watch the sunrise/sunset
Notice something that you had never noticed before
Relish in the beauty of God’s creation
Get lost in a book
Write something
Meet someone new
Encourage someone with a call or a text

We all miss so much of the very best while trying to plan for the very best. Wander and ponder and be open to the astonishing life that God has laid out in front of those who let go of themselves.