There is a lot of time here to reflect, and the other night I had a lot on my mind. I was worrying about things that were going on at home. I was stressed out and kind of wishing I could be back home to figure things out. Then I realized how ridiculous I was being. I’m literally on a different continent, and I have my mind racing about something out of my control. I’ve spent days counting down to my trip here and now I can’t stop thinking about things at home? Come on, Lauren get it together.
As a matter fact, I would say that a good portion if not the majority of my life has been spent counting down to things. I would count down to the next trip I’d go on, the next time I got to see someone, the end of the semester, graduation, you name it. I was the last of the three girls in my apartment to turn 21. What did I do? I started a count down TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY DAYS before my birthday! And not just that… wait for it… I made a paper chain. Seriously. That thing wrapped around our entire living room. Who does that?!!
I have spent so much of my life waiting for the next thing that I’ve missed what was right in front of me. I’ve wasted so many precious moments by looking forward to something I deemed more important. I haven’t always been the friend, daughter or teacher that I could’ve been because my mind, thoughts and efforts were elsewhere. So from this point on I’m going to make the effort to stop worrying about what’s to come. Instead of having my mind 8,000 miles and an ocean away on an entirely different continent, I’m going to realize I am in South Africa. I’m here to help others, not to worry about selfish little me.
That night when everything seemed to be stressing me out I decided to look through my bible. Sometimes (just for funsies…there’s no TV here) I’ll flip open my bible and see if the passage I turned to has any relativity to my current predicament. Well whadya know… the title for this passage: Jesus Teaches about Worry.
Well played, Sir. You have my attention.
Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
So I offer what little advice I can:
Live in the moment, Carpe Diem, whatever catch phrase or motto you want to throw in there, just do it (oops I did it again). Stop worrying about what’s to come and just enjoy the time you have now. Enjoy the people you are with. Stop and look at your surroundings and realize just how lucky and blessed you are. Stop worrying about what tomorrow holds and enjoy today.
I’ll try and do the same (:
Love and Light,
Lauren Elizabeth
Wayfarer's World 