And It Came To Pass
As I stared out the rear window of the bus, I thought, 'What if I
die? This may be my last night ever!'
My son suggested we take an all-night bus through the Peruvian Andes
down to the coast. I was prepared to be driven over high mountain
passes and on winding roads. We live in the Rocky Mountains of
western United States. But I was not prepared for roads so narrow
that the bus had to stop and let on-coming traffic around; or the
high speed at which the bus rounded hairpin curves; or roads that
were unpaved for long stretches, no guardrails and almost vertical
slopes just inches from our speeding wheels. Nor was I prepared to
ride in something that passed anything slower than the speed of
sound -- even around blind mountain curves.
I thought that perhaps I could sleep during the trip, but the
excitement and anxiety of what reminded me of an amusement park ride
kept my heart skipping beats and my eyes wide open. I thought, 'What
if I die?' and began to count all the possible ways this bus could
slide off the mountainside, not the least of which was the fact that
the driver was working a 12-hour shift. What if he became sleepy? My
mind was just too filled with "what ifs..." to find rest. I needed an
antidote to worry.
Then I remembered five comforting words: "And it came to pass..." Not
coincidently, the phrase is found throughout the Bible. It's an
intriguing phrase..."and it came to pass." I've never read, "And it
came to stay." It's always, "And it came to pass..."
Whenever I have encountered problems over the years, they came to
pass. My anxieties and worries always proved to be temporary. In
fact, I have forgotten most of the fears that once kept me awake at
night. I've learned that most tough times and impossible situations
eventually come to pass. And sufficient strength can be found for
those few that may linger a while.
Besides, what could I do? The bus would either make it or not.
Like New York Yankees outfielder Mickey Rivers once said, "Ain't no
sense in worrying about things you got control over, 'cause if you
got control over them, ain't no sense worrying. And there ain't no
sense worrying about things you got no control over, 'cause if you
got no control over them, ain't no sense worrying about them."
So I rested in the peace that, like most of what I worry about, this
will come to pass. I began to enjoy the rollicking ride, much like
one would enjoy a roller coaster. And before long, the sun rose on a
beautiful Peruvian landscape. It was true, I had nothing to worry
about. This, too, came to pass.
I suspect the same can be said about that problem that worries you.
~ Steve Goodier ~
[ by: Steve Goodier Copyright © 2006 (LifeSupport@yahoogroups.com) -- {used with permission} ]
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