Worry is Imagination, Poorly Used

This post is mostly for me. But maybe it’s for you too.

Logically, I understand that worry is a waste of time, especially when the source is completely out of our control.

These days, with the C-thing (I can’t even say it), there’s little towards which I can apply myself. I’m caught in a circular loop… How will all of this turn out? How many loved ones will I lose? Will I die? What will happen to my dog? Should I go to the store for butter? How many days before it’s safe to touch the Amazon box outside? And if we do come out of this, how can I pay the bills?

There are people who have it much worse than me. People who are homeless, who are sick, who are alone. I’m TRULY grateful for the people who are out there caring for the sick, delivering supplies, stocking shelves, testing solutions, updating the public, giving hope.

What can I do? How can I help? If only worry could fix this. I’m really good at that.

This is new territory for all of us. Everyone is doing what they can to cope, to survive. Social media has been a blessing - keeping us connected, hopeful and (for those who’ve yet to be personally affected), able to laugh. But I can’t help but wonder if we should be connecting to something else - to God.

I’ve been listening to a DVD series called The Story. The most recent parable told was the one where Jesus walks on water… and then Peter does, and then Peter fails, and then Peter is saved by Jesus. Peter failed when he became worried about the wind, when he lost faith.

The parable was relevant to my own thoughts. I drown daily in worry. But the truth is that no matter how isolated and afraid, I’m strengthened when I bring my focus to God. I’m not the sort of person who is overtly religious. I’d worry my words or actions would do the opposite, turn people away. Plus, I don’t have all the answers. I’m still figuring things out so who am I to instruct others on spirituality or salvation. I believe it’s a personal journey.

All that said, I worry that I’m not doing what I’m supposed to be doing. So here I am, doing all that I can... sharing faith.

Listen, I don’t promote this blog really at all. So if you’ve found it, maybe you were meant to find it. Maybe God is inviting you to walk with Him, maybe on water.

The picture in the meme above is one of thousands I took while performing on a cruise ship. What wonderful times those were. I had so many pictures that I wanted to share with the internet, but I posted very few because experiences can’t be felt through a picture or a post. You had to be there.

Sometimes folks were there, and I posted and tagged. Other times, I posted for myself, as if it bolstered and championed the memory, and I knew there had to be some who loved me enough to be happy for me and my privileged life at sea.

Today, what feels inappropriate is NOT sharing.

I’m sorry if you can’t stand on the beach right now, if you can’t feel the wind in your hair or the sand beneath your toes, or the sun on your face. But you can feel the Love of God. Wherever you are. And I hope you do.