I Worried
by Mary Oliver
I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers
flow in the right direction, will the earth turn
as it was taught, and if not how shall
I correct it?
Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven,
can I do better?
Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows
can do it and I am, well,
hopeless.
Is my eyesight fading or am I just imagining it,
am I going to get rheumatism,
lockjaw, dementia?
Finally I saw that worrying had come to nothing.
And gave it up. And took my old body
and went out into the morning,
and sang.
I got this poem recently from a friend and thought it was awesome. It aptly shows the futility of worry in our lives. Yet how often do we do just that, worry................
We may not realized that it's worry but just a nagging unsettledness in our chest. Issues that we spend too much time rehearsing and rehashing in our minds to find an answer for. Fears that creep in slowly until they become a 'normal' part of our thought processes.
Yesterday I read one of my favorite passages and was reminded not to worry and how practically to accomplish that:
"Always be full of joy in the L0rd. I say it again-rejoice!
(If we're full of worry, anxiety, stress, tension, fears, etc, there is no room to be full of Him at the center of our being!)
Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember the L0rd is coming soon.
Don't worry about anything; instead, pra-y about everything. Tell G0d what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience G0d's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.
(HOW to work out all the yucky stuff I've mentioned above.)
His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Chr1st J3sus.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Phil. 4: 4-8
(How to STAY in that peaceful place!)
