Worry

Sitting on a bus back home

I watch the scenery pass. A field

Of round bales, a manufacturing

Plant, the Colorado River, and a

Few cows. They go by quickly, as

The scene changes from big Texas

City to Lone Star countryside.

This morning was busy, between

Customer meetings and calls to the

Vet. The seconds and minutes added

Up, but not as quickly as the items on my

To do list and the thoughts in my head.

This week has been a weird one.

My heart heavy for family, heavy

For friends, and heavy for furry friends.

It seems that worry could easily

Set in and take over any space saved

For prayer and surrender.

Rummaging through old photos last

Night in my hotel room, I came across

One of Jess lifting up a dandelion with

The threads floating off into the bright

background. It struck me that this is how

I want worry to look in my life:

Offering it up to God, watching it flit away

Into the Son’s bright grace.

It’s the offering-up part that is hard.  It

Requires that I pick the worry up, lift

It up, and let go of it. This doesn’t just

Happen, but requires exerted effort and

And willingness to do so. 

I pray that just as on that bright summer

Day on the mountain, Jess lifted up the

Dandelion to the sky and watched it melt

Away, I would offer up this worry

And watch it melt away with each mile

Adding up on this bus ride home.