To worry is to have concern about something that threatens to bring bad news or results. Worrying often makes a person feel anxious, unhappy, or afraid. But we all do it. It’s part of our human nature.
If you believe that feeling bad or worrying long enough will change a past or future event, then you are residing on another planet with a different reality system. — William James
None of us wants to feel anxious, unhappy, or afraid. So what do we do to keep from worrying?
We can scramble around trying to solve our problems, with finances, love, health, our future. And sometimes we do solve them, at least temporarily. I say temporarily because each of the things we’re worrying about is temporary. Not one of those worries will last forever. Not one.
Each day on Earth brings change to us in some way. A positive change or a negative change. We can say that the kind of change that happens is up to us. And more times than not, this is true. But there is one huge change that will occur for all of us. A change we have no control over: Death.
Each of us will die. The most successful, the most famous, the most loving, and the most hateful–all of us. If we’re going to worry about anything, it ought to be the question of who we will be at the moment of our death.
Will we be loving and forgiving? Or will we be revengeful and filled with hatred?
Let’s draw an imaginary chart. On one side of the chart, put the temporary concerns of our present day lives. On the other side, inevitable fact of our death. One will out weigh the other.
If we are honest, we will see that what happens within us during our lives here, is more important than what happens outside of us.
If we focus on this, our worries become less. If we focus on being the best person we can be, the most loving person we can be despite our outward circumstances, then we actually have nothing to worry about. Because we will be trusting in God’s word. And he will lead us through the present moment.
The mind that is anxious about future events is miserable. –Seneca
But if we believe in God’s Love, Redemption, and Resurrection, we don’t need to be anxious. We don’t need to rebel, question, or doubt. Or live in a state of confusion and fear–because God will take all the debris of our yesterdays and todays and change them to give us joy, merit, peace and humility. He will bring good out of everything because He loves us.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.– Matthew 6:34
Close your eyes. Take a few long deep breaths. And listen.
Translating a World on the Edge 