Who Holds The Future

This past Sunday, Pastor Jared quoted Garrett Keizer from his book The Enigma of Anger,

“My anger has often more distressed those I love and who love me than it has affected those at whom I was angry.”

Jared followed with his own words, “Ah! Dagger in the heart.”

I tend to be fairly patient with people, sometimes even to a fault (if that is possible), but I can easily become impatient with things, circumstances and change, especially when they are not working the way I think they should. For example, when my computer is not getting me the information I seek. And of course, it is the computer’s fault, not mine. Or, when Pam changes the furniture around, only to have me fall over it in the middle of the night. When those things happen, I can get frustrated and express anger at those I love and who love me. Ah! Dagger in the heart.

James writes in Chapter 5, verses 7 and 8:

“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming…be patient and stand firm.”

I like structure and consistency, so when those things do not exist, I sometimes experience angst. It can be very difficult for me when change is occurring around me. It is not that I abhor change; in fact, I can actually enjoy it, as long as I understand the reason for the change.

Unfortunately, life does not always offer me an explanation as to why change has or is taking place. So, I have a choice. I can get frustrated and live in angst, or I can hold onto the quote from the ancient Greek poet, Homer, who wrote, “I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.”

When I take a step back and seek to see my circumstances through God’s eyes, everything slows down, I gain perspective and it allows me to embrace the change. Life is too short to live in angst and eternity is too long to not begin enjoying it right now.

Pastor Ken

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