This morning, I dropped Mary Moore off at a bus headed to cheer camp. M2 was so excited and I as I stood there, towering above all the tiny parents and cheerleaders, I was amazed at this new cheer world. Everyone spoke in loud, crisp shouts. There were bows on everyone and everything and even though it was 5:30 in the morning, they all hopped and zipped around without breath or pause. M2 fit right in.
M2 has wanted to tumble and cheer for years. We accommodated her request a little over a year ago with tumbling/gymnastic lessons, and decided to dive into the cheer world 2 weeks ago. This week, I was reminded of a video M2 had posted years ago, when she begged for gymnastic lessons. She was teaching the cyber world how to do a back walkover and her first point of advice was “to just not think about it, because if you do, you will fall on your head. ”.
M2’s advice should encourage us all in our practical and spiritual lives. We have a tendency to over-think things that we really know how to do by instinct. This morning…after I detoxed from the cheer immersion… I read the account in 3 of the gospels when Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James and John to “Follow Him.” In each account, the fishermen “Immediately followed Him” (Matt. 4:22). They “left their nets at once and followed Him” (Mark 1:18). “As soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus” (Luke 5:11). The disciples didn’t over-think it. They heard his voice and his calling and they knew it was the only choice. They didn’t think about the fish or what to pack or what they were leaving behind or what would happen next. They didn’t make excuses or rationalize, and they didn’t worry about falling on their head. They had decided to follow Jesus… No turning back, no turning back.
We also know what to do in our pursuit of following Jesus, but we often over-think it. We hear the small still voice of the Holy Spirit, but we dismiss it as a wandering thought. We see a need, but we don’t try to meet it, because it interferes with our schedule or our comfort zone. A friend is brought to our mind, but we don’t call or reach out, because it seems weird or too vulnerable to connect. We miss the victory and blessing because we are thinking too much instead of just doing it.
M2 continues to bless and amaze me. She is so open to try new things and love new people. She just does it. We would all be in a sweeter place if we followed her example of “Just don’t think about it.”
Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” Mark 1:17 (NLT)