My brother and I used to accompany our grandpa on fishing expeditions to various lakes in northern Canada close to where he lived. We enjoyed the adventure immensely! Truck, old rowboat, small outboard motor, 3 rods, 2 small grandsons, one grandpa, one cool summer evening. Perfect, right? Yeah, right up until we pulled the string of fish out of the lake into the boat while we motored to another choice fishing spot.
The large northern pike, incensed at not only being caught, but being required to breath air, thrashed mightily around the bottom of the boat. “The fish are splashing on me!”, one of us said. Grandpa, not understanding the severity of the issue in our minds, calmly told us not to worry. “DON’T WORRY?”, my brother replied. How could grandpa be unconcerned about this obviously disruptive fish behavior?
This week in Tennessee, almost every tree that draws breath [yes, trees breathe] is budding and blooming. Pollen everywhere! In the midst of this riot of color, I am amazed at the engineering and creativity our God puts into each variety of tree bloom even though they last only a few short days!
OK, I know you’re wondering- how is he going to pull fish and flowers together, right? Well, it’s in the “W” word. Worry. Grandpa could see that we were worried about things of little consequence. Jesus said,
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry… Matthew 6
Yeah, that’s the tie in. I was impressed this morning that I need to focus on this promise. We spend so much time worrying. I could worry about housing concerns, finances, work issues, blah, blah, blah. But why? None of these challenges are a surprise to my Father. A wise coworker told me this morning in the midst of her challenges, “God is still God!” And she was right.
So, as we enjoy the fantastic variety in the explosion of spring growth, let’s remember that if our Creator spends energy on things so temporary, He will provide for us too.
Father, give me the faith to rely on You to provide what You think I need.
Shared 4/12/2010.