At our service yesterday, we read Jesus' words from the gospel of Matthew (Matthew 6:25-34) where Jesus says, "Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
“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, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For … your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
After the reading, I told the group about taking my dogs to the dog park almost every day. One thing I’ve noticed about them when they are running around the park is that they don’t worry. When they're in the park, they are totally ‘in the moment.’ Completely involved in running, sniffing, and chasing. You know, sometimes I can almost see them smile when they are running around. I’m sure there are some people who will say I’m crazy, but I can tell when they are happy and they’re happy at the dog park, running. I don’t think they are thinking about anything else and I KNOW they are not worrying about the future.
Dogs (and other animals) definitely have an advantage over us. Would that we could be so completely in the present. It would be wonderful to be so involved in what is happening here and now that we don’t even think about the future. Now me, I’m a worrier. I come from a long line of worriers and my mother was the champion of them all. Unfortunately, she taught me well. It’s probably the one thing I wish she hadn’t passed on to me. But she did so I live with it and try to ignore the worry running around in my head.
There have been times when I’m in the park or in a forest or by the water when I completely lose myself in the moment. It is so peaceful and comforting to have my always noisy brain just shut up for a minute or two. But it never seems to last long. So what do you do if you’re a worrier? In the gospel reading for today, Jesus gave us all a very good suggestion. That is to seek God (whatever you conceive God to be) and his righteousness and all the other things you need will be given to you as well. THAT’S what trusting the God who loves us is all about!
Have a safe, blessed day.
Reverend Claudia and the critters... 
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