To Far Away to Matter?

“But Peter followed Him at a distance…” _Mark 14:54

Having lived with my own frailties and struggles for many decades now, I find it far easier to give grace to others than I did when I was younger.

And that grace extends to the past as well.

Enter Simon Peter.

If you’ve been around the church any time at all you’ve heard the snide remarks about Peter talking too much and basically acting like a bull in a China shop (mostly true) when far less bluster and blundering and a little more humility and biting his tongue would have served him better.

But that’s Peter for you.

And shame of shames, he and the rest of the crew, on the night Jesus was betrayed, tucked tail and ran for their lives.

But somewhere along the way, Peter slowed down and slowly came to a stop.  There he stood.  Bent over, hands on his knees, gasping for breath.  I don’t know what was going through his mind.  I’d like to think it was love.  Maybe it was shame, for betraying a man whom he called Lord, who had just a few hours earlier washed his tired and dirty feet.  I’m guessing it was a mixture of things. 

But this I know, Peter turned around and started walking back…back toward Jesus.

Oh I know, he managed to muddle that up as well, but to his lasting credit, when the chips were down and it could have all fallen apart, he managed to make his way back to Jesus.

And that made all the difference.

The ONE THING for today: There are seasons in life when the best you can do is follow Jesus from a distance.  That’s okay.  Those seasons don’t last forever, and they matter too.  

Maybe you are a long way away from the person you want to be or the person you used to be.  Maybe the doubts and questions and the shame and fear are drowning out the sermons and the songs.  Don’t throw in the towel just yet.  Keep plugging. Keep blowing on that tiny ember of hope.  Keep that last tiny seed of faith close to your heart.  

And whatever you do, don’t give up on Jesus.  

After all the drama and distress is over…

Long after the questions won’t matter anymore…

Jesus will still be there.

And in the end, that is all that matters.