1.25.2008

The Forecast

My trip to Georgetown on Interstate 35 today went as usual: terrible traffic, delays caused by road work, eighteen wheel tractor trailers that apparently could care less about running you off the road. I’ve become used to it. 

It is the trip back tomorrow morning that I am more concerned about. Freezing rain is in the forecast, and I have read one prediction on an internet weather site that the “ice accumulation will be no more than 1/4 inch.” My 3 ton diesel truck could care less if the ice is 1/4 inch thick or three feet thick. Heavy in the front and light in the back, it doesn’t do well on ice even when in four wheel drive. As I prepare for bed I just pray for the best, knowing that in Texas it will either be much better or much worse than predicted.

Come to think of it, that is pretty much the way life goes, isn’t it? As much we’d like we really cannot control the future, and tomorrow is probably going to be a great day or an awful day. I’m not saying that we don’t have ordinary days because we often do, but their very nature causes us to forget them. Our memorable days are the ones that were full of unexpected joy or unforeseen pain. And most of the time there is little that we can do to control them.

Jesus said, “Don’t worry about tomorrow; today has enough troubles of its own.” All my life I have struggled with the challenge of that verse. My mind always wants to wander off into the future, borrowing as much trouble as possible, creating unneeded anxiety and stress. 

As I approach the closing days of my sixth decade I am aware of the fact that there are fewer days in front of me than there are behind, and the vast majority of the days gone by were great days. The wisdom of Jesus has been proven by experience.

I’m going to sleep tonight in a state of grace. If it ices up tomorrow I’ll take extra hours or an extra day to get home. If it doesn’t I’ll be glad that I spent a minimum amount of time worrying about it. I’m learning that life, every day, really is a matter of faith.