Anticipation

A week ago today I was all kinds of excited. I was to report the next day for jury duty! It was Grand Jury and my number was 8. Unless I messed up, I’d be chosen! Inside I was jumping up and down, saying “Yippee!” (I know. Most people hate the idea of jury duty. What can I say? Guess I’m not most people.)

So there I was, doing laundry, cleaning house, making sure I had posts scheduled all week, and choosing an outfit for tomorrow (and next week, too). You’d think I was headed for Timbuktu instead of Wheaton!

Underneath the activity, though, ran a babbling stream: How long does it take to get to the courthouse? Would I find parking? What if I was late? Did I know which building, which room?

Then it was: Can we have coffee or water in the jury room? How far away is the restroom?

Then: How long is lunch? Do we go out? What restaurants are nearby? Can we eat and get back in time?

And: Are my clothes okay? What exactly is “business casual?”

Okay, I like to plan. I love to plan. But I was in uncharted territory: I’ve never done this before. And I don’t like having no idea what to expect. Hence the babbling thoughts.

Finally, out of desperation, I prayed, “Lord, I don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow.”

The answer came: “My child, you never know what is going to happen tomorrow. You just think you do.”

And I was reminded:

Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.
Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today. Matthew 6:31-34 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

I hear you laughing at me. I’m laughing at me, too. Of course everything went well. But think of the time and energy I wasted worrying! Next time (and there’s always a next time), could you just remind me to skip the hysteria and to do the praying first?