Placing our lives in His hands

For more years than I care to think about, a big part of my job was driving—in all types of weather, on all types of roads, and at different times of the day and night.  I can count on one hand the number of times the task was daunting or even scary.  Those times were usually because of the terrain, or the actions of other drivers on dangerous roads.  Night driving never scared me—that experience was new to me last night.

It was a simple task.  Marilyn and I ordered take-out at a restaurant less than a mile from our house, and I went to pick it up.  Because of the recent time change, it was pitch black by six o’clock.  I pulled up to the corner stop sign and turned my head to check for oncoming traffic as I always do.  All I could see was a sea of headlights coming my way.  It both confused and scared me.  I don’t know why.  I start to pray the Rosary.  After a few minutes, I finally got my courage up to continue on.  The strange thing is that I still felt lost.  I’ve made the same trip to the same restaurant maybe thousands of times over the last 45 years that we’ve lived here, yet I was ‘lost’.  Somehow, I got to the restaurant and back home safely, and I told Marilyn that I don’t think it would be good idea for me to drive at night anymore. I realized I wasn’t just scared; I was terrified with a real foreboding of impending danger.  And I thanked God for my safe return.

Then, to prepare for this reflection today, I read the part of Mark's gospel where Jesus was consoling His disciples about the trouble to come for them (Mark 13:24-32).  Of course, this was really important for Mark's disciples because of the troubles they were facing.  And too, it’s really important for us, as we face the troubles of our time.

When Jesus said that no one knows when the end of time would be, He sure was right.  For us today, while we might be deeply concerned about the growing critical condition of our planet, the real issue of our concern is about the end of our lives.  Who among us hasn't had a relative or friend die recently?  I'm most affected by it when the death involves someone who is younger than me - something that happens more and more frequently.

Every other trouble we face is some kind of “mini-death”, which is difficult to face.  The common effect of these experiences is that they can shake us.  They can disturb our confidence and upset our sense of security.  My experience of last night is a good example.

What Jesus wants to do for us today is what He did for His first disciples.  He wants us to not let our hearts be troubled (John 14:1).  Jesus knows He’ll be with us in the midst of everything.  He wants us to have confidence that we’re never alone.  And he wants us to trust that He has won the victory over sin and death - over every sin, over every death.

The way we can let our faith be deepened is to express our gratitude to our Lord many times each day. We can thank Him for being with us - in whatever situation in which we might find ourselves.  And the more we place our trust in the promise of eternal life, the more fearless we can become.  To be without fear is so empowering. It’s so liberating.  It can allow us to face any challenge - even death itself.  Death is just a scarecrow.  It shouldn’t be frightening for us at all.  Therefore, we can be bold.  We can be courageous.  We can face great difficulties, knowing that we’ll fall into the hands of a loving Savior.  This lack of fear, this freedom, makes selfless love so much easier.  I don't have to "calculate" what this or that act of love will "cost" me.  In fact, Jesus has assured us that the secret to happiness is that we will really find ourselves when we lose ourselves in love.

We can practice this faith - really exercise it and strengthen it, perhaps like a muscle we haven't used much - by simply practicing surrender.  Not being so cautious becomes less scary and helps us to be more confident in loving.  We can say, "Lord, I know that nothing can separate me from your care for me.  Help me love this person with your own type of love, thinking less of myself, and more for the other person.  Let me be bold and free."

Let’s be confident before the trials and tribulations of our day, placing our lives in His hands.