release ..

you might have know it all along
read it somewhere, heard of it, considered it ..
it's not until you reach the level of being able to relinquish your hold on your life, your self, that you're able to release completely into the arms of God

it's not a 'level' in the sense of achievement or accomplishment, like "i did this"; it's more like a stage of life, a place you arrive

'abandonment' is one term used to describe it (i think andrew murray)

Jesus used 'deny yourself'
on one occasion, to illustrate, he told a rich man who came to him with a question about 'eternal life' to sell everything he owned and give the proceeds to the poor; i believe Jesus absolutely meant what he said to that man; that was his particular ball-and-chain
Jesus also mentioned a willingness to leave family, if necessary

thing is, that release is the embodiment of complete trust, and nothing, including your own family, your possessions, or your best-friend-dog should be seen as a 'no' to his beckon
and it's not that God is cruel, but God understands us. God became one of us. God knows that this kind of trust is only available to those who relinquish their hold on everything - all, barring none - and see their very life as disposable for him

it is just this kind of release God calls for; few find it, i think; and it sometimes takes tragedy and suffering to allow us to recognize it in ourselves

anything other than that utter abandonment to God is missing the mark of God's intention for us, for God created us in his own image, like him, and God knows what it means to  be God ..
for us to be transformed into the image of God's Son means we abandon all, even life itself, to God, in trust, and acknowledge God continually, second after second, in everything in this life

God is the point of it all

God is truly the 'final frontier'
and Jesus will take you there

God created us in his image and after his likeness
then he created himself in our image, after our likeness
the circle is complete
join the circle
do not be afraid
only trust
then let go of everything
and with arms spread wide open

jump