Shade Tree Wisdom – Storm Sleeping 8/13/07

I’ll start with this. Uncle Emil needed a hired men, the work was just getting too much for him. So he left word at the Mill and the General Store, and pretty soon a fellow showed up asking about the work. His name was Hank. Hank is a good name for a hired man. He knew how to do the work, seemed willing and eager to start, and Uncle Emil hired him. Hank also said, “And by the way, I can sleep with the wind blowing.” Well, Uncle did not really understand that, but hired him anyhow.

Hank proved a real treasure. He was knowledgeable about machinery was always willing to do the hardest job without complaining, did his work well, and was the kind of help Uncle Emil needed to get control of all the things needed doing on this dairy farm.

Then one night a sudden summer storm came along and woke Uncle Emil up. He heard the wind blowing strongly, so he got up and checked the barn, the doors were firmly closed. Looked at the chicken house, found doors shut and locked. Checked the machine shed, and found all equipment safely under roof. Suddenly he understood what Hank meant when he said, “I can sleep when the wind is blowing.” He was prepared for it.

If you understand that story, you will understand what I mean when I can say, “Me Worry? Never”

Sunday’s readings were about Abraham’s promised son, and stories from the Faith chapter, and the Lord teaching His disciples how they were not to worry about the morrow. For the “Father knows that you need them. Seek His Kingdom, and all these things will be given you as well”.

Our God means for us to plan, yes, but, leave the rest in His care. We do what He means for us to do, and we can leave the outcome to Him.

As an example, a scholar in class does his/her work well, takes the exams in turn, and is finished. Doesn’t spend sleepless nights worrying about the result.

So live your life like that. Do each day what lies at hand to do, do it to the best of your ability, and go on with your life. Worry, Paul calls “idolatry”, for it means we don’t trust God. Just for a moment spend time meditating on Abraham, and Sarah, living with the promise “your own son shall be your heir”.

And Hebrews writes, “Abraham believed the Lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness.”

So, I pray your life will be so worry-free because “You believed the Lord’s rich promises.”

GPD 8/13/07