Do not be anxious...

            I’m not going to lay it at the feet of the “being the first-born” excuse, even if that is indeed what I am. Still, I’m not sure why growing up I’ve always had an overarching desire to do things as they should be done. Doing homework, why wouldn’t I want to diagram the sentences correctly? In one quarter of high school the teacher was astonished when he let me know I hadn’t gotten one algebra question wrong. My naïve thought was “Wasn’t that what I was supposed to do?”

            That one quarter is, of course, the stunning exception. I am unable to do things as they should be done. I am as fallible and error prone as anyone. Thankfully, I’ve come to be what Duane Mehl, a recovered perfectionist, entitled his book, “At Peace with Failure: how God Gives Grace to Live Beyond Your Shattered Dreams.”

            I can still be anxious about things coming up on my schedule or calendar. When I confessed this to a colleague, his response was, in effect, “4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”(Philippians 4:4-7).

            These are good words from the God Who loves us and saves us in Christ Jesus, our Lord. These are good words to keep in mind as we get back to the school.