Walking with Jesus

Ok! I must confess that I have broken one “walking with Jesus” bracelet and am now onto my second! I thought it would be so easy to do after living without sweets the last few Lents. But no it’s not, and had I not had time to recover, my wrists would both have red marks from the changing of my bracelet back and forth so many times!
Confused? Before Lent started, I decided that I would try to give up negative sarcasm and comments towards others. Borrowing an idea from a similar project in the Midwest, I figured I would get a “walking with Jesus” rubber bracelet to wear and remind me of my commitment. I went to Oriental Trader, found I could buy 12 of the bracelets for less than $5 (maybe I could get some folks to join me) and waited for them to arrive in the mail (I actually ended up ordering 36 because it was such a great deal!). When the bracelets arrived I chose one with bright pink, green, and yellow colors as opposed to the green, white, and red ones, which reminded me too much of Christmas candy. I put it on my wrist and quickly realized how snug it was. “I’d better be very careful or this could be a real issue I thought to myself.”
On Ash Wednesday I began my journey through Lent. When I was alone or with only a few folks, I found that I didn’t have to move it much from wrist to wrist. However, when I got in a crowd, my sarcastic somewhat biting humor would act up and I’d move it far too frequently. I quickly decided that each time I moved my bracelet, recognizing that I had been unkind, I would ask for forgiveness as well as pray for the person or incident that I had “attacked”. I found it to be humbling to be praying so often and yet freeing to see that there was an alternative to making one of my “comments”. I also found myself searching for different words to correct someone or to make a joke. By the first week, I was moving it less frequently and feeling pretty good about the whole thing.
Then it happened! In the midst of a changeover, right in the soul of one of the little footprints, the bracelet gave way! It was not strong enough to handle my sins! What would I do? I quickly moved to the basket where I was sure there were some left. Nothing! I still had over 30 days to go, what would I do? My first action was to order more bracelets (I think the reason they put 12 in one bag is they knew what I was going to be doing with them and realized I would need more than one!) and then wait. It was interesting to wait. I looked around and saw a number of folks who were wearing “walking with Jesus” bracelets and I wondered what they were walking with during Lent. I also found that without the bright colors and the snug fit, I was slipping back into some old habits. Oh how easy that is to do!
But then a new day began when a box with 48 “walking with Jesus” bracelets arrived. I quickly broke them out of the bags and chose the one I wanted to wear (I also put an extra one in my office desk for emergencies!). The new one was still snug, still bright, still a great reminder. It’s only been a couple of days but I am trying again (some folks say I can be very trying! Oops, hold on a second while I say a little prayer…). I’ve decided not to move the bracelet each time but rather to touch it, ask forgiveness, and offer a prayer for the person or situation. I like feeling again the freedom that I had experienced before. My goal though is not just to make it through Lent without breaking another bracelet (I am not sure my psyche could take it!) but rather to change my life and the way I deal with others.
Don’t worry, I recognize that the bracelet is just that, something that goes around my wrist but for now, it is helping me to be closer to Christ as I continue to strive for perfection in love (John Wesley said we should all do that from the moment we give our lives to Christ until we return home to glory where all is perfect!) The reality is that God provides us with many symbols and comforts to help us along our way. It might be a friend, a scripture verse, a Bible study, a song, or any of many other things. However, as I have been reminded (especially as I waited for my new bracelet!), it’s not any of those things that will change my life. Only through my time of prayer as well as my openness to God will I be changed (transformed is a better word!). God simply provides these many things, as we need them, because we need them, as we discover more and more how we need God. How great is that!?

Shalom,
David