Finding Jesus
This evening, our daughter and I went to see “Finding Dory.” This movie deeply touched me. Even before the movie began, there was a pixar cartoon. In it, a baby bird, was the focus. It zeroed in on, the mommy teaching the baby bird. For those of you, who know us personally, or have followed along with this blog, you can understand why it reached me. The baby bird went out to the ocean, and got hit with a wave. It scared it. It was hesitant to come out again. It kept running, from the wave. But, then it met a pal, and the pal helped it to see, that the wave was NOT as scary, as it appeared. There is a point, where he goes into the wave. We do this in life right? We are actually called INTO the storms of life. WE cannot go around them, most often we must go THROUGH them.
The film spoke of reconciliation, rehabilitation, and release. That got me too. Because, It is a DEEP desire of my heart. I want all 3 of those things. How bout you? I mean, don’t we ALL want these things? We get LOST in the world, the way she got LOST from her parents, we get LOST from Jesus. I’m convinced, that we are birthed into this world, with seeds of LOVE hidden, on the inside. But, depending on the atmosphere, that we arrive into, we grow in that place. Most days, I can make peace, with God’s plans. But, sometimes, when the BAD rears it’s UGLY head, I need rescue. The hardest part about rescue, is that it often LOOKS really messy and chaotic.
In my life, there have been times, where I have made really bad decisions. I own that. I thank God for HIS Grace. Because, if it were not for it, then so many things would be different. Jesus teaches us that His Grace is sufficient. All my life, from the moment, I cam to earth, I have been on a hunt for Jesus. I don’t think I realized that I was looking through eyes of fear, shadowed by faith. Even as an adult, I cannot lose the child in me. Because, THAT is where I find Jesus. THAT is where the REAL LOVE flows.
On my ticket, for this movie they shortened the name of the film. It says finding Jo. I immediately thought of Jane Doe. Then I thought of who is considered a “Jane Doe?” Anyone who has lost identity is known as Jane or John Doe. According to my research, Jane or John Doe, relates to THIS…
“The names “John Doe” or “John Roe” for men, “Jane Doe” or “JaneRoe” for women, or “Johnnie Doe” and “Janie Doe” for children, or just “Doe” non-gender-specifically are used as placeholder names for a party whose true identity is unknown or must be withheld in a legal action, case, or discussion.”
Notice what is says, a non gender place holder for a “party” whose “identity” is unknown or withheld. Who are WE without Jesus? WE are nameless. I began to get ready to go to see the movie, and God was already speaking. The first song that came on, was “HE KNOWS MY NAME.” It really helped me, to remember, that even when I forget who I am, HE remembers. Even when WE FEEL forgotten, it does not make us forgotten.
This song came to me…
I’ve been lookin’ at things in a negative light
Clippin’ my wings in the middle of flight
My motor is running on the heartaches of life
But it’s gettin’ me nowhere fast.
I’ve been relivin’ hurts that seemed far away
Siftin’ the dirt that covered the grave
Of the petty offenses I never forgave
But it’s gettin’ me nowhere fast.
I will remember not
I will forgive
These things that tear my heart
I will forget
I will forget.
Well I find that I’m just not agile enough
To balance the weight of all of this stuff
It’s a cumbersome task that demands too much
And it’s gettin’ me nowhere fast.
I will remember not
I will forgive
These things that tear my heart
I will forget
I will remember not
I will forgive
These things that tear my heart
I will forget
I will forget.
As far as the east is from the west
These are the things that I must forget
I’ll lay down my anger before the sun sets
I will forgive
Oh, and I will forget.
I will remember not
I will forgive
These things that tear my heart
I will forget
I will remember not
I will forgive
These things that tear my heart
I will forget.
I will remember not
I will forgive
These things that tear my heart…
It is a Susan Ashton song, and it came out, when I was a teen. Dory was trying hard to remember, her identity. She received assistance, from those who love her. I personally receive assistance from Jesus. He is the ONLY one, who can open and close doors in my life. He uses friends, family and even strangers, to do so. Or, He just does it, all on HIS own. The point is, it is THROUGH JESUS only, that WE find our way home, and can recognize, who WE truly are, in HIS eyes.
Dory finds her “family.” Yet, she realizes, that they are NOT her ONLY family. See, THAT is what is key. With Jesus it is most frequently, not either or, it is both. The LORD is a multi- faceted God. In HIS ways, He looks at EVERY individual, involved in every circumstance. HIS LOVE, truly covers every single need. HIS mind, is the mind that brings clarity. Without it, life is nothing but chaos and confusion.
So, where is your identity? And WHOM is it wrapped up in? Are you seeking to FIND Jesus? Because, trust me, that HE is seeking YOU, 100% of the time. At the end of the film, the view is the focus. What view are you receiving? Is it one from Heaven? Because I admit, staying focused on heaven is NOT always easy. But, the awesome gift of Jesus, reminds us, that even when it seems like we have dropped the ball, HE has inevitably caught it. 😉
In His Grace and Glory,
E and fam