Let Go and Let God

My late wife, Debbie, was an accomplished writer with her articles published in such places as Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Debbie (and let me refer to her as Debbie B) was a fan of the author Debbie Macomber (and let me refer to her as Debbie M). Debbie M is a New York Times best selling author of many novels and articles. Her work often touches on spiritual issues.

Debbie M is also is well known for her workshops designed to help other writers blossom. My Debbie B very much wanted to attend one of Debbie M’s workshops. But when Debbie B came down with cancer, this was no longer possible.

However, I have remained a follower of Debbie M’s writing and tips for authors. A recent article that she wrote really caught my eye.

In this article, Debbie M noted that so-called retirement hadn’t worked out as she had expected. Debbie M and her husband had purchased a second home in Arizona. But because of many complications, they were unable to spend much time at all in their new home in the Grand Canyon state. Also, the death of a very close friend left the New York Times best selling author full of grief.

But there was one really bright spot in Debbie M's life, and it was her puppy Bullet. After her prayer time in the morning, Bullet would demand attention. "He loved to play fetch. I tossed him a play toy, and he would scurry and race after it, often sliding across the tile floor in his rush to capture his prize," she noted.

Bullet would bring the toy back to her, and the puppy wanted his mistress to toss it again. "Only he refused to release it. I'd bend over and point to the floor, letting him know he had to let go of the toy before I would continue the game. Once Bullet realized I wasn't going to toss the toy until he had set it down, he reluctantly did so, only to snatch it up again before I had a chance to capture it," Debbie M said.

However, after Bullet realized that his owner meant business, he reluctantly dropped the toy again. Before Debbie M had another chance to pick it up, Bullet would capture the toy once more and run off with it.

"I smiled at his unwillingness until I realized this was exactly the game I've been playing with Spirit. With many prayers, I'd give my problems to God. Then I would fret and grab them back up. So many of the concerns I offered up had claw marks. Our silly, fun loving puppy had taught me a valuable lesson that day. Let go and Let God," Debbie M realized.

Being the writer that she is, Debbie M composed a short prayer for the above type of situations, and it goes like this: "Father, Help me rest in Your grace, and to be willing to trust in You."

I also like that she shared verses from two Psalms that help her to Let Go and Let God:

• Commit your way to the Lord, and trust in Him (Psalm 37:5).

• When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. I trust in God and I am not afraid (Psalm 56:3-4).

Debbie M's article reminded me of an elderly church member who I visited when I was the senior minister at Unity Of Roanoke Valley in Virginia. She was in her 90s and not in good physical shape. The nursing home where she lived was not the greatest. However, every time I visited her, she seemed so spiritually centered and beaming with faith, joy, and love.

She was also famous for giving out small plastic frogs. On our first meeting, she asked me, "Rev. Rick, do you know what this frog represents?" I told her I did not know.

Then she responded by saying, "It represents FROG: Fully Rely On God." To this day I always have a little green frog on my desk. I prefer to have frogs that are in the lotus position. They have really helped me to step up my game in terms of Letting Go and Letting God. I think I am leaving fewer claw marks in things I should be letting go because they are no longer serving me.

Let me also suggest several verses from the Psalms that may help you in the letting go process, including:

• Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never let you be shaken (Psalm 55:22).

• Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

One of the greatest joys I have experienced in Sacramento has been the honor of being with several people, who are in the Spiritual Life Center family, as they have gone through some very difficult situations. For each person, it has involved a serious process of Letting Go and Letting God. But in each case they have experienced 'the peace that passes all understanding.'

In A Course In Miracles it is said that the greatest miracle is the change in our minds and the raising of our consciousness. Often a key part of this process is letting go and letting God sooner.

Many blessings,

Rev. Rick