By Phil Baisley
I never cared much for the Disney movie “Frozen” except as a vehicle for the incredibly talented Idina Menzel.
There is, however, one takeaway from that cartoon that has become for me a mantra. No, more than that — a three-word goal that is also the means of getting there. It’s the words of the character Elsa: “Let it go.”
I’m not talking about having a careless, laissez faire attitude, one where you simply let things slide. That would be the perspective of the priest and the Levite in Jesus’ “Good Samaritan” parable. They saw a man in desperate need and went out of their way to avoid him.
They shouldn’t have let that go. When we see someone abused because of their race or religion, sexuality or station in life, we can’t simply let it go.
But there are things we need to hold less tightly. The farmer in Jesus’ story of the rich fool held too tightly to his wealth, and things did not end well for him.
Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar held too tightly to his power. The book of Daniel describes how God stripped him of his power, his mental capacities and his dignity, until Nebuchadnezzar realized there were things he needed to let go.
Parables and historical lessons have their place, but I didn’t understand the concept of letting go until I watched a friend star in a local production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
In a pivotal scene just before Jesus’ betrayal, he sings “Gethsemane.” The song moves from imploring God to release him from the “cup” of death on a cross, to anger that it was God’s plan that he should die such a horrible death in the first place, to resignation that although God’s will is “hard” it is his only choice.
I’ve sung that song while teaching about discipleship. I tell students that I want to be the kind of person who will submit to God’s will even when it’s difficult because that is true discipleship.
And it starts with letting go — letting go of things that are unnecessary, things that are harmful, but then being willing even to let go of the life to which we hold so tightly, if that life can be offered to God on behalf of others.
Chances are no one is going to demand your life or mine this week. Still, there may be something you’re holding onto that is keeping you from full communion with God or a loved one or your neighbors.Maybe it’s a grudge, the nagging memory of a slight, or a touch of regret.
It may not be easy, but it could be time to heed the words of the prophet Elsa and just “let it go.”
Phil Baisley is pastor of Greenfield Friends Meeting. This weekly column is written by local clergy members.
