Yes Man

I just saw the Jim Carrey movie this evening Yes Man on DVD. Carrey is a lonely man drawn in on himself after a divorce. He is losing his friends, his job is dead ending, and he has no romance in his life. He becomes so desperate that he goes to a self-help seminar where the guru convinces him to say yes to all the opportunities that life gives him. Hilarity, of course, ensues and he winds up succeeding in life, making many new friends, and finding love again. (BTW, parents this is PG-13, but you might not want to even let your 13 year old watch it. There is one segment that could have been dropped/altered without damage to the plot.)

Carrey's character came to realize that yes to every opporutnity wasn't healthy or necessary to have a fulfilling life. He could pick the yes and no moments in life. But the premise got me thinking about the offers we get in our lives from God, that we turn down. God gives us so many chances to learn, to grow, to serve, to love. Too often fear, selfishness, or pride prevent us from saying yes.

"Drop your nets," Jesus said, "and follow me." The disciples did have to give up something, careers, to learn something new, a new kind of fishing. Just a few verses later after Peter has answered this call, Jesus visits his home and finds Peter's mother-in-law was ill. Jesus heals here. When we say yes to Jesus' commands, what he gives in return is always far greater than what we sacrficed.

So let's see what opportunity God will send my way next and I pray I have the openness I need to say yes!