Thinking About Safety

I've been thinking a bit lately, about following Jesus, and safety.

Francis Chan talked a bit about it in Crazy Love, writing:

People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else.  Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress. (pg. 133)

and

A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort.  Obsessed people know that true joy doesn't depend on circumstances or environment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately comes from God (James 1:2-4). (pg. 146)

I read this blog post about it the other day, and it struck deeply as well.

I find myself incredibly challenged, just presently, by this message that isn't really new, and yet feels incredibly fresh.

This message that says that if I am following Jesus, if I am living in the midst of his will for me, then it is the safest and most perfect place I can be.  But that that safety doesn't necessarily include my physical safety.

I've heard some personal stories lately that have really challenged me in this too.  Stories that have caused me to ask again if I am willing to surrender even this, this "right" to my safety.  If I am willing to trust Jesus with this most fundamental of things.  If I am willing to trust that if I value my life, he values it so much more.

It's not an easy question to answer, but it's one that is working in stretching and challenging and wonderful ways in my heart right now.

Daily 5 - Day 33

Today's Daily 5 is mostly a list of things for which I'm grateful today:

1. I'm thankful for a roommate who listens and understands - who "gets" me and let's me process outloud at times, and then helps to offer perspective
2. I'm thankful that the stabbing situation that Mom and her cousin and I bumped into in "my" park tonight, didn't happen earlier in the day, when I was alone in the park writing and thinking... I'm also thankful that we were safe as we were walking. (waiting for the news outlets to have more details on this... but the long and short is that there was a strong police presence right where we were walking, and the police helicopter circling, and when we walked down one particular path, there were spatters of fresh blood so we turned around and headed the other direction... a newspaper photographer we talked with briefly on our way back to the car told us that there had been a stabbing)
3. I'm thankful for new knowledge of family, and a sense of belonging, even in the midst of a new layer of woundedness
4. I'm thankful for the leftovers that mom sent home with me, that fed me for supper and will also cover my lunch tomorrow.
5. I'm thankful for quiet, joyful moments at the zoo this morning, watching the baby gorilla play with a blanket and explore a little.