“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” -John 14:6 How do we draw near to God? How do we achieve salvation, everlasting life, joy, peace, justice, love, fulfillment, etc.? Jesus answered this: through him, and it is only through him that we have life with the Father. We can do nothing to earn our way, there is no other god that can save, no other option than Jesus. This is an exclusionary fact that Jesus claimed to be the way, the truth, and the life. We may seek to control our lives, and especially in this day, to be independent and self-reliant. Jesus teaches that we need to be dependent. Dependent on him and on others. This is not a bad thing, God made us for community and to be dependent on him and others. Adam was struggling when he was alone, therefore God made Eve. Without God, we would be so lost and struggling. God gives us wonderful gifts: talents, skills, blessings, spiritual gifts, friendships/family, life, ...