” . . . taking thought for the morrow is a waste of time, I believe, because all we can do to prepare rightly for tomorrow is to do the right thing today.”- Wendell Berry, Our Only World
“All beginnings, no matter what they are, hold elements of both joy and heartbreak. When we enter a new beginning we have generally also experienced some kind of ending that comes with layered emotions and experiences of grief, transition, and letting go.”- Emily P. Freeman
In Chapter 6 (“Be a Beginner”) of The Next Right Thing, Emily P. Freeman observes that we usually welcome new beginnings. However, we don’t welcome beginner status. Emily explains:
“We want our circumstances to change, to start again, to be brand new. But when they change, we often don’t give ourselves permission to be new within them. Instead, we want to rush ahead to mastery. We think we ought to know how to navigate the newness, especially if it’s something we wanted, something we prayed for, waited for, asked for, or planned.”
Therefore, it’s crucial to admit those areas of your life where you’re a beginner. Because it’s an important part of your decision-making process. Otherwise, you wind up making decision in order to avoid looking dumb, feeling foolish, or to save face. All terrible things to serve as the basis for your decisions.
Hence, first accept your role as a beginner. Most noteworthy, it’s a respectable and worthy place to be. And in the process, access the child you remain on the inside. Like a child, your soul longs for love, safety, and welcome. In addition, don’t view your smallness as a liability. Since you are in Christ, your smallness is a gift. Emily concludes:
“Pay attention when you recognize something you don’t know. . . . Admit you don’t know, whether to another person or privately to Jesus. Welcome him into these moments of being a beginner. He wants to be with you.”
Today’s question: How often do you focus your thoughts on the morrow? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “When clouds are gathering for a storm”
