The Way
Matthew 6:25-34
What do you worry about?
Photo of a shell in Braga, Spain.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you-- you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. - Matthew 6:25-34
I used to worry about the future. I also worried about the immediate present. What will happen today? Will I be ready? Have I worked hard enough, studied enough, applied myself enough?
I like to think that when one retires, one no longer has reasons to worry about the future, but that isn’t true. If you are a worrywart, you will worry about everything and anything.
Will my money last? Will i be able to pay that bill on time? Should I plan to take a vacation?
Worry is a state of mind. No, it is a state of being. When one worries, one is in a different state than when one chooses not to worry.
Jesus tries to comfort us in our worrying by telling us about the birds and the flowers, but who buys that stuff?
Birds have to work for their food, and flowers have to struggle to survive.
Yes, God made all things beautiful, and we can admire that beauty, but since Adam and Eve left the garden, we have had to fend for ourselves. God doesn’t provide the way He used to do.
We brought that upon ourselves, you could say, if you believe the Creation story. But still, God could do a better job providing for us.
Do you agree?
Look at all the people who have nothing. Their struggle to survive is great, much greater than ours.
And maybe that is the point.
Maybe God is trying to teach us to care.
Compare what you are worried about with someone who is worse off. Then, how do you feel?
As many of you know, I just returned from a four-and-a-half-month world cruise. Everything was provided for us. We paid for it in advance, of course, but I got to experience more than a third of the year without a thing to worry about.
Worry comes from not knowing. It is based on fear. If I manage my life so that everything I will have to deal with is already planned for and provided for, I can enjoy the journey.
That is what Jesus is telling us. The hard stuff is provided for. We are blessed, and grace is bestowed upon us. Don’t fret over that. Enjoy the day.
I was standing in the square at the cathedral of Santiago in Compostela, Spain. It is the destination for those who walk the Camino, the Way, a 500 or so mile trek across mountains and through villages.
It is an arduous journey.
Along the way, the sidewalks are marked with a scallop shell, so people know which way to go.
I talked to people, young and old, who completed their walks and were hanging out in the square. They were filled with joy, every one of them!
They had just completed a grueling journey, covering fifteen or more miles per day for one to two months, with nothing more than what they could carry on their backs.
They inspired me to want to do the walk myself. At my age. Why not?
I realized I had no worries. My journey was paid for. Everything I needed was supplied. They had to make do along the way, and they were ecstatic about their accomplishments.
God gave us a choice. We can choose to work hard and struggle, or we can sit back and worry about how we will survive.
Those who put in the effort and overcome the struggles are happier.
That is my take on it. I will let you know next year when I complete my walk.
More to come...