Allow life’s struggles to awaken your true self.

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Listen to my song “Take the Road Less Traveled” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

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John 20:16-17

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

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We continue with the ‘Mary Magdalene’ theme from yesterday.

In the Gospel of John’s account, you can’t miss the particularly intimate portrayal of her encounter with the risen Christ.

At first, she doesn’t recognize Jesus, not until he calls her by name: “Mary (exclamation)!”

And then comes his request to stop holding on to him.

So, she must have run into his arms.

But, alas, we cannot remain static.

We cannot simply stay where we are and try to keep the status quo.

Life involves change.

It involves struggle.

Let’s face it: Without the struggles many of us would not have the courage to move forward into the unknown.

I know I wouldn’t have!

It seems to be the only way we can grow!

We must be willing to let go of what was so that we can experience what has yet to be.

It’s the space of creativity.

It’s that vulnerable, liminal space that is so uncomfortable – yet necessary for us to blossom.

As Jesus put it, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit (John 12:24).”

For something new to start, something old must end.

That’s the creative evolutionary process of the universe.

For whatever mysterious reason, that’s the way of God.

Perhaps the current upheaval in life that this pandemic has caused across the world is just the thing to spur a major transformation in us all for the better?

Take courage!

For as today’s scripture tells us: God is the God of Jesus, you, me, and everything.

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Listen to the song of the day “Take the Road Less Traveled” on the Live to Love album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!