The Morning Came Without My Help

While sitting on my back deck one morning recently listening to the birds sing, enjoying the trees and plants, and just taking in the beauty of that new day, a thought occurred to me: “The morning came without my help”. I had nothing to do with it. Absolutely nothing. I did not play any part whatsoever in its arrival, and yet it came anyway.

Sometimes I get all caught up in what I am doing. What contribution I am making in this world. What effect my presence here is having. Sometimes it’s good to just sit and be aware that a lot of things seem to happen just fine without my involvement. In fact, if I was honest, sometimes my involvement just seems to get in the way. Some things are supposed to be received as a gift from the One who loves to love us whether we had anything to do with it or not.

Why is it that I am often so obsessed with what I am doing, what contribution I am making, what kind of influence I have over people and situations? I understand the fact that we are created to participate with God in creation; in His kingdom. I know that the God-image in us longs to create, to bless, to work toward righteousness and justice. But as much as I would like it to be, I don’t really think that is always the primary motivation of my striving. There is something much more neurotic at play here. Much more self-centered. Many of my pursuits lead to worry, anxiety, fear, and guilt. Many of them feel more like a weight pressing down on me than a lifting up of my spirit that comes from some truly noble or selfless act.

Control. That’s it. Much of my striving comes from a need to control the world around me, at least my world. I know that there is really nothing I can do about Afghanistan, or the Gulf oil spill, or the economy in Greece. Nothing, that is, except worry. But there is plenty I can do to control my world isn’t there? Aren’t there lots of things that really depend upon my efforts, my abilities, my talents? Things that just couldn’t happen without my involvement? I’m afraid that reality tells me there are probably far less of these than I think. Mornings teach me this. Mornings come without my help. Amazing. I guess there are some things that are not intended to be controlled. Some things are just there to be enjoyed. And some things (quite a lot actually) might just happen anyway, even without my help.

“His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning.

Great is Your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23