Let It Go, Louie!

I’ve written several times about the house fire our family experienced. It was a scary event but we all made it out safely and, while most or our possessions were lost, we did save a few things.

One item that was saved was a t-shirt I had in my closet. The fire occurred when the Budweiser Frogs were popular and the t-shirt sported the advertising slogan: “Let It Go, Louie!” My wife and I would joke about that slogan as we worked to put the pieces of our lives back together. When we would get caught up in the what-was, what-could-have been, and what-if world of second guessing, one of us would help bring us back to the present by simply saying, “Let It Go, Louie!”

Christopher Bellitto, college history professor and religious publication editor, writes in the March 15 edition of America Magazine: “… faith and trust are not about us. Handing over is about God, about God’s plan for each of us, about serving God in everyone around us. It is about St. Peter, not understanding why Jesus had to wash his feet but somehow knowing he had to do it. It is about all the healing themes we hear in Lent.”

I agree with the writer. Trusting in God can be an easier task than giving over to God, “letting go” of what we insist on holding on to. For those of us who are parents, think of the time you first entrusted the care of your child to another. You knew that the caregiver you selected was qualified and you trusted them, but letting go and giving over was a difficult task. So you made copious notes of all of the idiosyncrasies and needs of your one-of-a-kind child. You debriefed the caregiver and covered every contingency you could imagine. Finally, it came time to just let go and trust the caregiver. Finally, with a little trepidation, you let go. We sometimes take a similar approach to our trust in God.

Most of us have faith and believe that God will guide our lives. But do we have trust? Are we willing to let go of the things that are holding us back? Here are a couple of questions you might want to mull over as you reflect on faith and trust:

What is the “one thing” you would pray to give over to God in your life to allow yourself to follow God’s plan for you?
Where do you need healing in your life today? Is it forgiveness of self, forgiveness of another? What holds on to you and holds you back from moving closer to God?

Lent is a great time to reflect on where we are on our spiritual journey. We understand why Jesus had to die and rise again, and we know the wonderful gifts God has given us through the death and resurrection of his Son. So, “Louie,” what do you need to let go of this Lent? What would you like God to do for you to help you grow closer in your relationship with him?

Be at peace, and know that you are loved!

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