Devotion for January 19, 2022, from Pastor Barbara Caine of Holy Redeemer:
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I just couldn’t do it this year. I just couldn’t make any resolutions to lose weight (oh, but I should!), to exercise (that would be good!), or to take better care of myself (yup, that, too!). With the Omicron variant, with fires, storms, floods, with our political situation, with a volcano that exploded in Tonga, and with everything else that has happened, it’s as if the very moment that we begin to think the tide is turning, something else crops up. It’s as if we are constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. When will it all end? When will life be normal again?
You know, the disciples had the same kinds of questions, they must have. Listen to what Jesus says to them, “And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest?
But, we respond, Jesus, of course I worry! Some of my loved ones are too little for the vaccine! Folks haven’t even been able to get ahold of their loved ones in Tonga! What if democracy is trashed? How do we deal with storms and fires and floods, all at the same time? When will the pandemic slow down? How…..and on and on and on. But, you know, Jesus is on to something here. He’s asking those he loves and cares about (maybe especially us) to consider a different focus. From time immemorial, life has been hard. Illness, weather, politics, disasters have always been a part of life. And, really, worrying just doesn’t help…. It’s a very human thing to do, but it’s simply a waste of time
What does help is focusing on what we can do. We can pray. We can get vaccinated. We can share what we can with those in need. We can pray. We can comfort each other. We can be active in the political system, and we can advocate for others. We can pray. We can take better care of ourselves. We can call somebody, help somebody, thank somebody, play with somebody, and did I mention that we can pray?
So if you and I find ourselves worrying, we can remember Jesus’ words and change our focus. Hmmm…. Now there’s a resolution to try!
In Christ,
Pastor Barbara
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New Year Resolution Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
Worry Less Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash