“Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?

Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?

Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known?

Will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?” – “The Summons”

This past week, my mother officially submitted in her resignation to retire from work within the next couple of weeks. As she prepared to make the resignation official, we had been discussing her plans and goals on what she’d like to accomplish in this next chapter for her. Whether it is spending more time with friends and family, serving in church and in local prayer communities, or having more time to cook and clean without feeling rushed, the abundance of things to do excited her.

During mass this past Sunday at our parish, my mother saw a familiar person. She approached the lady after mass to introduce herself as we were leaving the church. It turned out that this lady was a former colleague of hers at work from the early 80’s to late 90’s. They hadn’t seen each other since the company they worked at had closed more than 20 years ago. They reminisced the great time they had working for that company and caught up on what they have been up to since then. Before we left, they exchanged phone numbers to stay in touch. Perhaps the encounter was a sign that my mother is ready for retirement.

This past Sunday tells the story of Jesus calling His disciples to commit themselves to following Him. While some of His disciples rationalized taking care of small matters to make sure the time is right for them before following Him, Jesus insisted they do not look back and wait, and start following Him because there is no right time to start.

Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:61-62)

Jesus calls us to answer and follow Him, with what God has planned for us, even if it costs us our current relationships and what we’ve worked hard for years.

We can tell ourselves that “everything is in God’s hands” or “accept that we cannot control certain things in life” as to why we are not where we want and need to be.

But what we aren’t told after those rosy, sugarcoated quotes is: What are you going to do about it?

Are you willing to commit yourself to losing relationships you’ve spent years working hard to cultivate to fight for what matters most to you? Are you willing to handle negativity along the way because people’s sicknesses reacted to you raising your own standards?

Yes, everything else is in God’s hands. At the same time, God also wants us to do our part and work towards our goals and challenges. When my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer almost four years ago, we left what we couldn’t control up to God (how the doctors and medical staff treated her). At the same time, we also did our part to make sure my mother successfully recovered (ensuring my mother rests and eats well, waking up early each morning for a month after surgery to take my mother to her radiation treatment, praying the rosary each night). It wasn’t easy those four months (from diagnosis to treatment), but we got through the challenge with the help of God’s grace. The challenge strengthened our faith and more accepting of matters beyond our control, teaching me personal responsibility.

Yes, we must accept that we cannot control certain things in life. Whether that involves friends and family members changing, and not being part or invited to their milestones. Or cancel culture shoving certain agendas down our throats. At the same time, God also wants us to do our part to take those signs as opportunities in finding our meaning and crafts in this world to devote ourselves to and meet people outside of our social circles. Reach out to strangers who have the result you desire for advice. Attend events, such as fellowships and hiking gatherings, to meet people who share qualities and values you have. It’s not easy at first, dealing with rejection and self-doubts whether you’re good enough. However, you will find freedom in not depending on others for your own happiness because your devotion that gives you happiness and fulfillment is controlled by you.

Life is lived more fully. Time doesn’t seem to “fly by so quickly”. And eventually, we will attract the right partner who wants to learn and grow together with us.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for always calling us to live in devotion to You and the gifts You blessed us with. Truly, there are many things You want us to see on what’s beyond our control, so we can become the people You want us to be. We are sorry for our stubbornness in answering Your call, because of what doing so will cost us. We pray for Your grace, to help us take that first step in answering Your call, to not look back, as doing so will take us closer to You and better versions of ourselves.

In this we humbly pray, Amen.

(the cover photo is my mother and I enjoying boba milk tea in 100ºF weather before heading back from a trip to Las Vegas. 😎)