(11.26.20—Let God Do It!--Matthew 6:32)
My friend, may I ask you a question? When we include worry in our lives, it’s like taking a shortcut, one ill fated to turn out the same way–unfounded. Is that the way to live our lives? In fear and dread of what may happen?
My friend, life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.
I’m M. Clifford Brunner
I had the idea the other day to take a shortcut from the office to a client’s office across town. I was behind in my time by a bit and decided that it would be a good idea to save the few minutes that I had lost by simply cutting across town on a couple of surface streets rather than taking the main streets I would have normally taken. The shortcut started out OK and I began to feel confident that I would make up the time that I’d lost by leaving a few minutes late. That’s when I turned left as opposed to right. A few minutes later I found myself driving north when I knew I should be driving south. After a frantic turnaround I retraced my path to the point of the wrong turn and picked up the pace a bit to still make the appointment on time. Arriving, I looked at my watch and noticed that I was right on time. It suddenly occurred to me if had taken the normal, familiar route I would have probably made it there at the same time or, perhaps, sooner. My belief that the shortcut would be quicker was probably an unfounded one.
When we include worry in our lives, it’s like taking a shortcut, one ill fated to turn out the same way–unfounded.
Here’s a story: One night, the great conductor, Arturo Toscanini, was warming up his orchestra prior to a rehearsal performance. As he glanced about the orchestra pit watching each performer ready his music and take a quick confirming glance of the score, he noticed his bassoonist deep in thought, brow wrinkled and obviously distraught. Toscanini tapped his baton gently on the wooden edge of the lectern and cleared his throat. Still the bassoonist did not look up from his score. Finally the conductor put down his baton and asked the man why he was not ready to lift his instrument. The man slowly lifted his head, looked around and asked for an impromptu audience with the maestro. The embarrassed man quickly toddled to the front whereupon he nervously whispered “he could not reach the high E flat and was searching the piece for the dreaded note.” Toscanini just smiled and whispered in response, “Don’t worry. There is no E flat in your music tonight.” (Source unknown)
Many of our worries are like that–unfounded and unnecessary. Nonetheless, in order to make sure that we are in complete and total control of our lives, we reach for the first unnecessary and worthless tool we can find to do the job–worry. Worry gives us the false hope that we’re in control while all the time we’re really headed in the wrong direction. That worthless tool, like my ill-fated shortcut, is bound to be more counter-productive than productive. There is no better instruction than our Savior’s words on this account: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matt 6:34).
We pray. Heavenly Father. Many of our worries are unfounded and unnecessary. Yet, in order to make sure we are in complete and total control of our lives, we reach for the first unnecessary and worthless tool we can find to do the job–worry. Forgive us Lord for not reaching out to You first. We are not in control, but You are. Our worry is bound to be more counter-productive than productive. There is no better instruction than our Savior’s words on this account: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matt 6:34). We pray this in Jesus name. Amen!
Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.
If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to "This Passing Day!"
<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.