A story about letting go
“Sorry about that,” Ollie said to me from his Dodge Charger. “I thought there was only one rideshare pickup area at the airport. I went to Terminal 1 instead of Terminal 2.”
“No worries,” I replied. Fresh from a beach vacation in Florida, I hopped into an Uber at the airport and headed home. I quickly noticed a Temptations badge hanging from my driver’s rearview mirror. “Are you a fan?” I asked. Ollie laughed. “I’m retired now and I sing in a Temptations cover band.” “Will you sing for me?” I asked. “This is an Uber, not a concert!” Ollie jokingly replied.
Ollie was about 70 years old, his voice like William’s from This is Us. He wore a canvas brim boater hat and a bright smile. He grew up in California and spent some time working in the music industry. I asked him how he ended up in Chicago and his response amazed me. “I found myself doing some things I thought I’d never do,” he said. “I knew if I stayed there, I would compromise my character. So I took a map, ran my finger across it and pointed. It landed on Chicago and I’ve been here ever since.”
“So you just left?” I asked, amazed.
“Yes,” he replied. “It’s amazing because all of the people I worked with at that time are now dead. I’d be dead too if I stayed.”
A few weeks ago, I had a dream that I was in a body bag and I was no longer alive. (I know — it’s weird — just hang on, it’ll make more sense in a minute). I believe God still speaks to us through dreams today, so I asked God what this could mean (if anything). I sensed that God was symbolically inviting me to “die to myself.” Throughout our lives, God takes us deeper into relationship and he transforms us into the likeness of Jesus. We instantly become new creations when we receive Jesus, but our entire life is the working of that out into reality as we renew our minds and yield our will to His. This transformation happens from the inside out as we release our burdens, fears, and desires to Him. Sometimes the process is painful and requires us to let go when all we really want to do is stay in control. On the other side of that death, though, is renewal and life.
When Ollie left California, I imagine that he also let go of a dream. He was working with some pretty big superstars and he left for a city where he didn’t really know anyone. This really stood out to me, though, because his character mattered more than his dream. His integrity cost him something. What he could have thought would bring death to his career and success actually kept him alive.
Choosing Jesus doesn’t always mean selling our home and moving across the country, but I think it does mean depending on Him daily and allowing him to guide our hearts moment by moment. When we let go of the things that we think we need to control, God ultimately replaces those things with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. It’s a beautiful journey and an invitation into a fuller, more beautiful life.
“Tonight, I’m taking my grandson to see the new Avengers movie,” Ollie beamed as he dropped me off.
At that moment, I leaned my head back and smiled. I love that Ollie chose his character so many years ago because I could sense the deep love and affection he had for his grandson. It’s amazing to think about what beauty is waiting for us on the other side of the decisions we make today.
“God bless you,” Ollie smiled as he drove away.
