Worrying productively

By Rev. Deanna Woodward

Maple Leaf Parishes –

Faith United Methodist Churches of Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston and Spring Valley

I recently tried out some jokes on my family and on the congregation at Cherry Grove Cowboy Church. Despite their reaction (mostly groaning), I thought I’d share a few with you readers. Here are some jokes about farming:

Why do cows like being told farmer jokes? Because they like being a-moo-sed.

How did the farmer find his lost cow? He tractor down.

Why did the cow jump over the moon? The farmer had cold hands.

What kinds of things does a farmer talk about when milking cows? Udder nonsense.

Kidding aside, the late Howard Thurman wrote a poem entitled ”The Worry Cow” that goes like this: “The worry cow would have lasted til now if she hadn’t lost her breath. But she thought her hay wouldn’t last all day, so she ‘moo-ed’ herself to death.”

Do you ever feel like the worry cow? With all that’s going on in the world, there is a lot to worry about. But Jesus urged us to reconsider all of the time we spend worrying. In Matthew 6:27 he asked, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” And the chapter ends with his words, “Seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness… Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Someone else once asked, “What does your anxiety do? It does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it only empties today of its strength. It does not make you escape trouble; it only makes you unfit to cope with it when it comes.”

God has created us with the ability to worry. A certain amount of worry serves a purpose. Good parents worry about their children and protect them. Good citizens worry about their city and their country and they vote. Good workers worry about doing their jobs well. Good church members are concerned about their church and they show up. These worries mean that we care. They move us to plan ahead or take precautions. If I never worried, I might never complete a sermon or an article. To get it done, I have to get anxious about it. This concern prompts me to get busy writing and meet the deadline.

There’s a difference between worry that leads us to positive action and fretting like that worry cow. Certainly our national and world problems are no joke, but fretting immobilizes us while productive worry motivates us. Productive worry helps us sort out the trivial issues from the things that really matter. Productive worry leads us to action directed by prayer. When Jesus warned about worry, he also gave helpful advice. Strive first for God’s kingdom and righteousness and the other things will find their place. Make God the center of your life; focus on God. Put it all before God, and guided by God, do the best you can each day.