Elom reflects on Scott's reflections: Overwhelmed?

I came up with this new mental exercise for the next few weeks, and then we'll see where it goes from there. Every time I start feeling overwhelmed or stressed, I sit back, take a deep breath and repeat: "If you can't control it, then don't worry about it"...until I calm down. It’s been working pretty well so far. This new mantra, if you will, was inspired by Mt 6:27

” Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”

This is easier said than done, isn't it? Some of us just have so much on our minds…My natural tendency was to worry about everything and anything. And when I had nothing to worry about, I worried about that too… It was an endless cycle for me. It is so easy to let our minds wander towards things we know we have absolutely no control over.

I used worry about silly stuff too. For a while there, I would turn the TV on every morning just to watch the weather forecast for the day. If there was a chance of rain or snow, I would usually become very anxious and start mentally preparing for my drive to school/work. I would worry until I walked out the door and only saw a few drops of rain… I don’t even know why I bothered watching the forecast: you know what they say about the Ohio weather… if you don’t like it; just wait a few hours…(so true!). Needless to say, I don’t watch the weather forecast anymore, unless I have something special planned! That sounds like a sweet gig, by the way… Getting paid to be wrong about 50% of the time...I should become a meteorologist!

The passage from Mt 6:27 was written centuries before the age of technology, lattes on tap, cell phones, inflated gas prices, mortgage crises, or any aspects of our so called modern lives. Yet, the message is clear; worrying about any of these things will NOT add a minute, or hour to our lives. Instead, feelings of helplessness, anxiety, and other negative thoughts start taking over, leaving our minds restless and our bodies weak. There are more positive ways for us to deal with these types of events, without feeling completely overwhelmed. I have always been a practical person, usually making rational decisions, but it took a long time to realize that I could not do it all. I finally had to accept that God just wanted to take me by the hand and help me get through some difficult situations. All I have to do is ask Him.

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Mt 11: 28

EED