The word follow can be complicated today. By simply pushing a button you’re suddenly invited into a person’s life, thoughts and beliefs. But what if not hitting follow didn’t mean that you didn’t agree with them or even support them - what if it meant something entirely different?
When I was a teenager, I struggled with the tension of being a follower and thinking for myself. I honestly didn't know that I had a choice. I thought if I wanted to be accepted or liked, I had to go along with others, especially those who were louder and who pressured me, even if I didn’t agree with them.
In doing this… I sacrificed my beliefs. I sacrificed my interests. And I sacrificed who I was. I longed for the acceptance and approval of others and when this is your pursuit - a piece of yourself gets lost somewhere along the way.
I have done some healing since then and I have found that it’s never worth sacrificing yourself for the sake of pleasing someone else. And now before I press a button, before I blindly follow along - I pause and I search out my intentions. I make sure that my heart is in the right place before I blindly follow along.
But there’s something that is worth mentioning in this conversation. The reason I was following was because of something much deeper, a wound that bore the ugliness of some deep pain. I was struggling with who I was. By this time in my life I had much of who I was stripped away and I was lost within my own self. I didn’t know the way forward because I didn’t know who I was - I didn’t know what I liked to do, I didn’t even know my gifts or passions. I was merely following along to just get through life. And this was because I didn’t know who God was. I knew about him and even believed in him, but I didn’t know the depth of his love for me. It would take me several years to come to this knowing, but when I did I began to see myself as the person he created me to be.
How about you? Have you ever found yourself wandering without purpose or even a destination? It’s really a lot easier than it sounds, because life can bring all sorts of painful things and sometimes it’s hard to find your way through them. This though, is the hope we have in Jesus. He is the One who clears a path for us and gives us the way when we can’t find our way home. And he is the One we can trust to follow. The only One who won’t lead us astray or ever abandon us. He’s not looking for a following, he’s looking for a person - he’s looking for you and for me, to walk us home.
So, I want to thank each one of you because I know what it took for you to press follow and to join me in this journey toward rest and healing. Together as we move from merely desiring wholeness - to actually living it out. And as we find our way home together, may we be sojourners, co-laborers and co-suffers of the One who’s gone before us.
I pray the words here will be a source of encouragement as you pursue the heart of God more than the approval of man.
“We’re all just walking each other home.” Ram Dass, an American spiritual leader of the 1960’s and 1970’s
A LETTER TO MY FELLOW SOJOURNERS
Thank you for being patient with me as my site has been paused to better serve you. If you haven’t been to my website in awhile, please check it out. I have made a lot of improvements and would love for you to stop by there ruthannjweece.com
You will also find some new resources on the Soul Carepage. They have been such a blessing to me, I hope they will be the same for you. I’ll update these resources often.
In the coming months, this letter will arrive in your inbox the first Thursday of each month. My desire is to share a short story and some of the favorite things I am reading or listening to. Thanks for following along with me and please share The Storywith your friends. I’d love to meet them!
Lastly, please know that I never want you to do this thing alone, I want you to know there are others who are walking beside you and God is there with you too.
Hi Ruthann. I remember you as a sweet child when your family so graciously took me in when life was very hard for me. Life is hard. I remember you all, but you were the one that caught me up in a hope that I desperately needed. God is Good. All the time. Love to you. Robin
Hi Ruthann. I remember you as a sweet child when your family so graciously took me in when life was very hard for me. Life is hard. I remember you all, but you were the one that caught me up in a hope that I desperately needed. God is Good. All the time. Love to you. Robin
Aww that’s the sweetest memory ever. Thank you for sharing this. How are you? So good to hear from you!!