“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2 NIV

Letting Go of the Banana

I had written in a journal about letting go of the hope of having my own home again, after losing our home years ago and relocating. I made reference to catching monkeys in the jungle. Trappers placed cages with one banana in each cage. When the monkeys came, they reached their hand into the cage, grabbed the banana, but they could not remove their hand from the cage without letting go of the banana. The trappers returned with burlap sacks and bagged the monkeys because sadly, the monkeys would not let go of the banana.

I had to let go of the bait or be trapped by my own desires, disappointments, and frustrations. Accepting whatever plan God had for me, I let go of the banana—my will—in exchange for His will.

Rereading what I had written, my heart broke for my friends and community whose homes were consumed by fire. I began to scold my selfish self. “At least I have a roof over my head, my stuff, and my pets.” I got emotional considering my friends who were processing their loss.

We had lost our business, and with it our lovely home with a pool in Southern California. We spent the next two years in our “perfect home” among the pine trees and deer in Northern California. To our chagrin, we had to move our belongings into a temporary rental one-third the size. We thought it would only be for a year or possibly two years until we could get back on our feet to buy a home. “We could make it fun,” I said, “as if we were camping for a year.”

That was over 20 years ago. Although deeply disappointed in our losses, God’s greater blessing was being closer to our family, a wonderful church, fellowship, and many friends. (And…we still had some of our belongings that so many others lost in the fires.)

God changed my attitude and perspective when I took my eyes off myself and onto others. I began to think of ways I could help. “You will never do God’s will when you are living in the past. Looking back will distract you from what is in front of you” (author unknown).

“Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

“But one thing I do: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us” (Philippians 3:13-14TLB).

“Forgive me, Lord; I am grateful for Your blessings. Thank You for showing me ways to help those who are truly in need.”