One of my favorite movies is Always. It is a Steven Speilburg film from 1989. Richard Dreyfuss dies fighting fires and leaves behind his girlfriend Dorinda (Holly Hunter) and best friend Al (John Goodman) to carry on. So his best friend stop fighting fire and instead directs a school for pilots who fight fire with water bombers. A newbie named Ted (Brad Johnson) comes on the scene who is then mentored by Pete’s (Dreyfuss) ghost.
I thought about that movie this morning when I thought about the marketing push that is out there for bloggers, and the social media hype that demands everyone needs more followers. I remember one scene in particular that sums up how I feel about checking my stats and followers.
Marg Helgenberger is playing a mechanic named Rachel who drives an escort vehicle to route planes on the runway. It has a big sign on the back that says, “Follow Me” and so they do.
However, one day the vehicle which has a mind of its own it seems takes off without her and is running rampage. Ted (Brad Johnson) comes in for a landing and starts to follow follows the rogue vehicle. Rachel is running behind the plane screaming, “Ted, don’t follow me!”
Eventually the vehicle plows into Dorinda’s front porch.
That is how I feel today. I am tired of all the platform building, and 17 steps to get more followers articles. I don’t want to check another stat to see if I am relevant. Today I am just following Jesus and telling you that if you planned on following me you could end up wrecked somewhere.
I am just a girl who found out where the living water is and I am trying to share it with others. I am not the source of it, Jesus is. Follow Him.
I just want to write, and have to share out of the abundance of the life-giving water He gives me everyday. I lean on the well and try not to wander off. I know my track record and I don’t like the feel of crashing into anything else.
I will tell you a secret. I know not one of my twitter followers personally. All of them have no idea who I really am. I pray they are following because they met Jesus face to face in something I tweeted or posted to this blog. I am so thankful for that because it is the reason I began blogging in the first place.
Why do we spend so much time comparing ourselves to the world filled with people who all have different fingerprints?
It’s time we say I am going to be me and do what God calls me to do personally, and not get caught up in being like or better than anyone else. It’s time to let God get the glory from what we do. It’s time to tell our flesh that loved the limelight that God’s acceptance is enough for me. It’s time to Follow Him so He can say, “Hey you know so and so, well she started this blog, Facebook, Twitter ministry, and now I have ____ followers. Well done good and faithful servant.”
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19 NIV
We are meant to catch them and teach them to follow Him not us. Yes, it is important to get the message out there, but it shouldn’t be our focus. He should.
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:16 NIV
Here are some scenes from the movie. Though I recommend you see the movie yourself.
Another Samaritan Woman 