As rain fell sporadically this afternoon, I popped into the store I hate to love to pick up some diet cola and eye makeup remover. You guessed it, I'm planning an amazing night of soda consumption and beauty treatments. It is Friday, after all!
$50 later (never knew eye makeup remover was so expensive, did ya!), I took my full cart through the checkout line and headed for the car, only I can't see my car. I knew exactly where I parked it, but I couldn't see it. I sped up my pace, hoping to be able to see past the minivan blocking my view to confirm my car is still where I already know it is. Confusing and silly enough? Oh, it gets better, my friends!
This obsession with laying my peepers on my car has me all befuddled. I'm pushing the cart, craning my neck, rushing to find a better vantage point when it happens: I skip into the deepest, dirtiest, widest puddle in at least a 100 foot radius. Muddy, smelly water fills my last pair of Vans (lost my other pair in the bathroom flood last week - still not ready to talk about the loss), soaks the lower half of my right leg and splashes me up to the waistband of my jeans. Yuck.
I swim my way out of the muck and realize that, from the other side of the cavernous puddle, I can see my car perfectly fine. It is exactly where I left it. Duh. I was so embarrassed! Thankfully, no one I knew saw me...at least I don't think they did.
After shaking the drippy water off, loading my trunk with shopping bags dotted with mud and heading home, I had a moment of clarity.
How often do I waste my time focusing on things that either don't matter or I already know the answer to while neglecting to be alert regarding the stuff that really does matter?
Who cares if so-and-so said something thoughtless that bothers me? God already knows about it! Why should it matter if my efforts are not recognized? God sees the heart. He knows my motivations. So what if I don't know exactly what is in store for me in my life over the next few years? God is already there and will equip me for whatever comes my way.
In the meantime, I didn't read my Bible this morning. I was running late. I neglected completing a task I need to finish. I didn't want to face it. I ate cookies for breakfast. I didn't feel like going to the trouble of making my planned oatmeal (and it didn't sound appetizing). As a result, I am not meditating on God's word, I have an unfinished task nagging at every thought and my stomach is not happy. Wouldn't it be better to focus on those things I can control, knowing God's got the unseen stuff covered? At the very least, I'd have more peace in my life as a result. That, and I'd have less clean up to deal with this afternoon.
Class dismissed.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Matthew 6:33-34
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