*Disclaimer* [This is a poetic interpretation of some emotions and thoughts I had while praying for our broken world. I understand that this is a very hard issue with many complicated facets. I am not claiming to have any answers, nor do I think my opinions are more valid than anyone else’s, but I know Jesus will guide us through His spirit. He is the only Hope we have.]

If Jesus was walking in the Middle East today, he would be hated.

Hated by us.

He would be a poor, working class man displaced from his home. He would be walking for days at a time, trying to show His love to many through this time of utter turmoil.  He might be out on a rickety boat at sea, holding those who are leaving their entire world behind.

He’d be with them sharing His living water.

He would be comforting people as they ran away from certain death.

His name would be lost in a sea of figures, because we’ve once again dehumanized these people; they’re numbers, statistics. The Savior of the world would be lost to us, drowning in an exodus. A large portion of the world, the people He has come to save, would vehemently oppose Him ever stepping foot on their soil. They would speak about Him with fear and concern as they sit in their cafes and places of work. They would post racial and ethnic slurs to their social media

as if the entire world was yelling obscenities towards Him at once.

It’s easier to yell out of anger than to admit we’re afraid.

We wouldn’t try to get to know Him. We wouldn’t try to see His life. We wouldn’t see the truth in Him. We wouldn’t allow Him to touch our hearts and offer us living water.

We would see the color of His skin, His country of origin, or even hear His accent and completely discount any water He has to offer us. We don’t want it.

He would be “just another Muslim who’s probably a terrorist.”

Even though He’s Jewish.

Even though He’s running from the same people we’re afraid of.

Even though He’s our only Hope.

Even though He’s Jesus.

It doesn’t matter. America is more important. In fact, Jesus would likely be killed in the Middle East when we accidentally drop a bomb on a hospital.

Or when we intentionally drop a bomb on a Mosque, raining fire down in His father’s name.

He would die because He would be with our Muslim siblings, sharing His living water with them. Sharing it with them because we’re too afraid to even open up our hearts to it. With the flip of a switch, we’d drop a bomb and Jesus would be gone. Why can’t we see what we’re doing? Why can’t we see that violence leads to violence leads to violence and that placing our hope in steel will only bring us despair?

Placing our Hope in Jesus is the only way.

The Cross has taken the wreckage of our war-torn, broken lives, and made them whole again in His arms.

Though the world has made us refugees, Jesus has made us whole.

Though violence has made them refugees, we must allow Jesus to make them whole through us.

I have spent peaceful moments over the past few days watching leaves fall from trees. I’m not speaking of leaves being carried away by a gust of wind, but of individual leaves letting go one by one and falling to the ground through the still air to then be carried wherever nature would have. This is what our lives are meant to be.

Just as autumn brings out the truth of these leaves through their natural color, Jesus wants to bring out the truth of Him through who we are meant to be. Just as autumn causes the boldness of the leaves to show through, He wants to give you bold, bright truth and life.

Yet displaying bold brightness and fullness of color to show the trees’ glory is not enough, no. The leaves have to let go; the leaves, one by one, let go of their comfortable place up in safety of the tree where they’ve spent their entire lives thus far. They let go and fall to the ground, unaware of what happens next. Some will stay under the same tree and provide nourishment for it in the spring as they are mixed into the soil. Some will be carried far away by the wind and will provide nourishment for other trees. Some will be photographed and their faces will reach the ends of the earth. Some will be placed into photo albums for the beauty they contain. Some will be picked up by small children and cherished as a precious treasure in a special box under their bed.

God wants you to let go of your comfortable place up in the tree. He has brought out truth and life in you, and He wants your willingness to fall into His purpose. He wants you to let go and fall before Him! He may keep you in your same spot, allowing you to nourish your community and your space. He may carry you far and wide to places you’ve never dreamed of! He may have your voice speak to many, to share with them the Life you’ve been given! He may mold you into a precious person to someone who needs something to hold onto, you may be the reflection of Him to them. Wherever He takes you and whatever He has you do, we can rest on the promise that it will be a life full of Joy!

If we merely display the truth of God yet aren’t willing to let go of ourselves, we are missing out on God’s purpose for our lives. We are saying “thank you for the cross that you have carried, but I am going to live my life in my own tried and true comfort and security.” Don’t hold out pieces of your heart from your Father. He wants the whole thing!

If the autumn leaves never fell, they would never nourish the earth and there would be no room for new life come spring.

Letting go of your own life and falling into the Father’s plan will bring nourishment and new life to many, and it will be the most fantastic, wondrous journey you could ever imagine.

As I sit here writing, I see leaf after leaf fall to the ground, finally tired of holding on. Are you ready to let go and see what an amazing life God has for you?

Let go and fall into His arms beneath the tree of His life.