25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?[1] Matthew 6:25-27
Dear Church,
This week the birds came back! A pair of birds are working hard updating their nest by the back door in preparation for a new batch of babies! I caught this shot of one of them as they were industrially working together to provide the perfect décor of twigs. I find great comfort in watching them. They’ve never heard of Covid-19 and are just getting on with life.
If I am not careful lately, I find myself falling into a state of worry-ness. Without my usual routine, going to the church, visiting people, working with our staff and leaders, going to see my family, I worry. Is everyone okay? How are they holding up? Do they need anything? Do we need anything? And then I come perilously close to distress by engaging in what-ifs. You most likely know what that’s like and what a slippery slope to distress it is.
I am grateful for Jesus’ down to earth insight at a time like this. “Is not life more than food, and body more than clothing?” When I think about it, yep, it is. And when I fall into “What if?” and “Oh, no!” it helps to look at the birds. They just get on with life, and when I do that, I do not worry. Well, to be honest, I worry less….
For the remainder of this time, let’s give our worries to God. If it helps, write them down and put them in a box on a shelf, or in a drawer, or tuck them into your bible. Let God hold them for you. God always does that anyway, You – we – are very valuable to God. Jesus told us so. Set them aside and let God carry your worries and burdens each day. Take a page out of the birds’ book of life. Prepare and take care. And continue to get on with life!
You take very good care.
In Christ,
Pastor Barbara
[1] Harper Bibles. NRSV Bible (Kindle Locations 47985-47987). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.