Get Good At Dying

23 Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. (John 12:23-26)

As Jesus prepared for his earthly ministry to end, he sought to both prepare his disciples and give them a measure of comfort that all they had done would not be in vain. But any ease the disciples felt likely evaporated when they understood that Jesus expected them to follow him into an even greater unknown.

We don't usually think of a planted seed as dying - we only look forward to what will grow. Those who enjoy gardening don't even mind the dirt or the effort. They are undeterred by the plantings that don't mature - rather due to nature or nurture. We understand that if a seed stays a seed, there is no life and no growth. But we are less open to this natural cycle in our own lives.

Most of us are not called to literally die for our faith, but to live giving our lives in expression of that faith. As we journey with Jesus to the cross, we can learn to stop holding on to what we think we know ourselves to be, and embrace the discomfort and mess of becoming, of breaking open, of trusting God with what will grow. We get good at dying by allowing the temporariness of both joy and pain to lead us to value without hoarding, and let go without crumbling. It is possible to loose everything we thought we were, and still be exactly who and what we are meant to be. In fact, it is the only way.

27 "Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say--' Father, save me from this hour'? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." 29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." 30 Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." (John 12:27-32)