Whoever comes to me and doesn’t hate father and mother, spouse and children, and brothers and sisters—yes, even one’s own life—cannot be my disciple. Whoever doesn’t carry their own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. – Luke 14:26-27 (CEB)
Recently, I was driving to church on Sunday morning in a driving rain. It was early in the morning, around 6:30, with a deep gloom surrounding the rain. Driving through the Pinelands, it felt desolate. Yet as I drove, I passed a jogger. It is not unusual for me to see joggers on that stretch of road on Sunday mornings. Sometimes I will pass two dozen of them. But that is on sunny mornings in the summer. On those days there is excitement in the air for getting outside and exercising. There was no sense of excitement this morning, or with this jogger. Alone and drenched from head to toe, working hard to make it up a steady upward grade against the wind and rain, it seemed to me an image of bravery and commitment. No raincoat or special gear, he was dressed only in a t-shirt, jogging shorts, and sneakers. Why in the world would anyone submit themselves to being in the storm that early in the morning? It looked absolutely miserable. Yet it was also admirable the level of commitment it must take to put on those shoes and face the cold and rain!
Does being a disciple of Jesus ever make you feel like this jogger? I know there are days when I get out of bed and have no interest in following whatever God may want to do that day. I’d rather stay home and turn on some video screens. There are also plenty of days that following Jesus seems incredibly lonely. There are plenty of joggers and excitement on the beautiful days, but not so much when the conditions aren’t so favorable.
What motivation does a jogger have to keep going on those days? Is it the same as motivation for following Jesus? What is it that motivates us as disciples? We are not trying to earn anything or prove how good we are. We are already called, claimed, redeemed, and forgiven by grace before we do anything. Our actions are but responses to God’s action. Our motivation is love in response to God’s love for us. Yet it is so easy to lose that sense of passion, especially when it feels lonely to follow Jesus’ steps. Perhaps it is the sheer power of routine that keeps the jogger going on days that it doesn’t feel good to run; perhaps there are days that routine is what keeps us following Jesus too. Whatever it is, we can rest in the knowledge that on the hard road of discipleship we do not lead but follow. We respond to Jesus’ call imperfectly, but freed and forgiven we are able to respond. Perhaps that can move us to go out in the rain in the early morning gloom and live as Jesus’ disciples.