Wednesday's thoughts

"Anxiety: Get Over It" Sermon for January 4, 2009

There are two basic aspects of life that make us anxious. It doesn't take much living to know that it happens to us; it happens to all of us.
1. There are things that happen to us that take us by surprise and it is difficult to know what to do with them when they happen. Unfortunate things happen. Accidents happen. Misunderstandings happen. Mistakes are made. Sometimes life is just basically unfair and we don't know what to do with what happens.
2. Compounding that is the realization that some of the things that happen have a cause and a reason. We are the victims of our own bad decisions. We are responsible for our misfortune. Maybe we didn't see it coming but when it came we used bad judgment. We can learn from this.
Sometimes things happen to us for no apparent reason at all. We don't understand why it happens; or how to deal with it now that it has happened.

What do we do with the things that happen when we don't have a good answer to the question "Why?"

I have come up with a basic truth and I think it is universally true.

We must never run from life. We must always face up to the things that happen. We have to say "yes" to life and the only way to say "yes" to life is to find the courage to stand up to life when it comes to us in ways we didn't expect and in ways we don't understand.

I think of David facing Goliath; we all have a shot at Goliath.
I think of Mary and Joseph facing their unknown future.
I think of Jesus walking into Jerusalem.
I think of all kinds of people who have learned that they must not run away but must stand up to the problems and to the unexpected.

What is the most difficult thing you have had to face? How did you face it? Did you want to run from it?

If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.

By the way, Happy New Year!


Charles Schuster