I Think Too Much

"I THINK TOO MUCH"

           I think too much. I think so and my wife thinks so. In fact, I think
            she thinks too much too and so does she. What all this means, I
            don't know but I'll figure it out.

            An example of this happened the other day. I got the flu. Yuk! I
            spent half the night in the bathroom and the other half hoping I
            wouldn't have to go back to the bathroom. By morning I settled down
            sufficiently to have a breakfast of ice cubes. Then the thinking
            started.

            First the pity channel came on, "Why me?"

            Then the accuser channel blinked on, "Why not you, you big oaf!"

            "HEY, it's my mind! I want the remote!", I said switching to my
            favorite channel - useless contemplation.

            "Boy, I wish I hadn't gotten sick. Still - if I had to be sick this
            was the day for it. I made arrangements at work to be gone and
            Cathy, Joshua, and Justine will be in Anchorage for the day leaving
            me to convalesce peacefully."

            This brings up a concept I'll call "Semi-providential" - you know,
            good and bad mixed up in such a way that the bad isn't as bad as it
            could be. It's happened to all of us - like your car breaking down
            in front of the mechanic's shop or pulling a hamstring by the first
            aid station.

            Is God "Semi-providential"? Does he drive you home and drop you off
            in your neighborhood but not at your door? When we take Jesus as our
            Lord does He leave us ninety percent saved? Does God do us mostly
            good all the days of our life?

            Then my mental remote switched to a more productive channel, God's
            word.

            ""My ways are not your ways nor my thoughts your thoughts," says the
            Lord"

            "Ain't that the truth," I thought gratefully. Other promises came to
            mind:

            "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

            "In this world you will have trouble but be of good cheer. I have
            overcome the world."

            "Nothing shall ever separate you from the love of God."

            All these are God's truth - His precious truth that sets us free.

            So as I lay here on my back at six in the morning sipping ice cubes,
            I realize that Jesus is right beside me sipping as well.

            So why did I get sick? I don't know. I've got better things to think
            about.

          BY DAVID LOOMIS COPYRIGHT 2000

"STORIES"

"SITES TO SURF"

"FRIENDS POETRY PLACE"