Last week I wrote about my frantic worries about Jury duty. I said I wanted to remember to pray before panicking.
It is just possible that I am learning. On Thursday I left home at the regular time, thinking I would be early. I like early. But with fresh snow and the roads not well cleared, I began to wonder if I should have left sooner. Traffic was moving, though, and I had a decent cushion of time, so how bad could it be?
Then traffic came practically to a stop. Time passed, and I thought about finding a way past the jam, watching other drivers try, but decided the side streets would probably be worse than the main ones. (One juror reported trying to get around the jam only to end up behind the very same truck when she returned to the main road!)
As I sat there, I remembered: Oh, yes. Pray! Okay.
I began by wondering if there was an accident, and prayed for anyone involved. I looked at all the cars around me and prayed for the drivers. I even prayed for the poor souls shoveling their driveways so they could join the craziness.
Turns out it wasn’t an accident. A traffic light wasn’t working, forcing people to try to remember how to navigate a stop sign through multiple lanes of traffic.
All that focusing outside of myself brought peace. And joy. And the realization that I was not only one who was going to be late: everyone was.
And think about how many people I had had a chance to stealth-bless!
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The Bible talks about worry. 1 Peter 5:7 is a popular go-to verse. Here are two versions:
Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries,
all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)
Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you. (The Passion Translation)
Pretty clear, I think.
The forecast doesn’t include snow this week, but maybe I should practice praying anyway. It would be nice to have established a habit, you know, for the next time I am inclined to worry.
Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts
whirling around a center of fear.
Corrie Ten Boom