being ourselves

If we are lucky in life, we may have had that experience of knowing that what we are doing is exactly what we are meant to be doing. It might be our job, or being part of a relationship, it might be something else we enjoy - a hobby or a trip. But when we are in that place of belonging - and it is a feeling which goes far beyond those social niceties which so often bind us - we are content, we are relaxed and comfortable.

When Jesus says that His yoke is light and his burden easy he is talking about being who we are meant to be. The language we use for becoming a Christian is no accident - we are re-born and begin a new life in Christ - because in Christ we find our true identity - and just as we find those places in life which just fit right - we find in Jesus that we just fit right and we work towards knocking off those raw edges - as John Wesley said, "perfecting perfection."

This then is our basic state of being - who we are in Christ - everything else builds on that cornerstone. This means that we can lose everything and still be who we are - although that truth can be hard to hold onto when we are hurt and angry. Underneath all the titles and things and worries we are who we are in Christ and that is rock solid - that burden is so light and that yoke - that simple affirmation that we belong to Jesus - sits easy on our shoulders.

That is not to say that life will not bring us to places which are very dark or that we will not find great joys - the Christian life is not a monotone - but by our confession of Jesus in all that we are and all that we do we establish a norm which does not promise to protect us from the harsh winds and storms but teaches us that there is a place beyond them.