everyday images

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (Matthew 6:27-29 ESV)

“What’s on your agenda for today?”

That was one of my Mom’s favorite questions for me on those rare mornings on which we were both home. It was always asked in a cheery tone and more often than not was answered in an almost as cheery tone, due in no small part to the fact that Mom was a morning person. I, sadly, am not.

Some mornings the answer was simple, “Nothing. What’s on your agenda?”

Other mornings, though, she would get the full list. “Well, I leave for [insert name of youth trip here] on Friday so I’m going to have to do laundry go to the store, print out the phone list weed the garden make sure there’s cat food here so you can feed her while I am gone please don’t forget to feed her while I’m gone and don’t forget the litter box too you know how she gets I should also make sure I have litter I think I have camera batteries but I ought to check on that too what do you want for Sunday dinner I was thinking a roast that we could put in the slow cooker I probably ought to pick up snacks for the road and charge my cell phone just in case someone calls to ask when we are leaving I think I told them at least six times but they always ask and don’t forget that I get paid while I am gone so if you can pick up my check that would be great do you think I ought to get the oil changed before I go it’s been over 3,000 miles but I don’t think they mean to get it done immediately at 3,000 miles and then I need to finish up that Sunday school lesson for tomorrow.”

Sounds breathless, no? Full of worries. Full of stress. Full of myself.

Full of wrong ideas about God.

Francis Chan says in his book, Crazy Love:

Worry implies that we don’t quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what’s happening in our lives.

Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.

Basically, these two behviors communicate that it’s okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional. Both worry and stress reek of arrogance.

Jesus knew that arrogance rested in the hearts of people on a hillside who had gathered to hear him speak. Someone was worried about what to have for dinner because there were plenty of options for him. Someone else was worried because their poverty afforded them no options. One was there, looking as if he were listening, but was thinking about all the things he needed to do. One was letting her mind wander about what her children were doing and what would become of them.

Jesus turned to the lilies basking in the Galilean sun. They don’t worry. They aren’t anxious. They just rest and yet they are more beautiful than the best of Solomon’s treasures.

We get nothing out of our worries.

We can get everything from turning toward the Son.