Whoever has will be given more;
whoever does not have,
even what they have will be taken from them.
–Mark 4:25 (NIV)
When I heard this scripture one morning,
and thought about our generous God,
I didn’t hear the word “even.”
I heard, “Whoever does not have
what they have will be taken from them.”
How is that possible? I wondered.
If they have nothing–no sense of God’s love or light–
there’s nothing to be taken away.
Maybe what they have
is blocking love and light?
What if that’s what God wants to take away?
Ease washed over me.
I knew it was true.
For weeks, I was trapped in the fear of
making the wrong decision
and being taken advantage of.
Then, after I risked
asking all my questions and
wearing thin someone’s patience,
I completed my research,
weighed my options,
and made a decision
to put my life in their hands.
When I did, I experienced
such kindness,
I wanted to cry.
Suddenly, my world got bigger.
I saw more people in it.
I found other questions to ask,
other ways of thinking to explore.
I trusted someone,
and I saw them
do something beautiful
with that trust.
I saw
that they love to do beautiful things
just like I do.
From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
–John 1:16 (NRSVUE)
An Everyday Pilgrim 