I have no clue what will happen today.

I just wanted you to know that.

I spent part of one Sunday afternoon at a funeral for a woman who had been married for 65 years, who had Alzheimer’s. The pastor started his message with “None of us planned to be here today.”

What was interesting for this funeral is that this woman–after her family was told it would be a “matter of hours” — lived for several days. The family had been planning on a funeral and couldn’t even count on that happening.

I don’t mean to be disrespectful at all.

I do, however, want to remind myself that even when we think we know what’s coming, we don’t. Death happens, or doesn’t. Our child gets sick, or doesn’t. Our stock crashes, or doesn’t.

If we spend all of our time worrying about what might happen or planning as if nothing will happen, we will find that we have wasted a lot of energy that could have been spent on something else. Like listening to the person talking to us right now. Like asking for wisdom for the project that is happening right now. Like not procrastinating on writing that tough email because of our fear of what might happen.

Jesus said, “Seek the kingdom.” In the next breath he says, “Don’t worry about tomorrow.”

Today has its own trouble. Today has its own opportunity to watch God work. Today we can ask God to let us be part of his work and his kingdom and his caring and his compassion and his solutions and his hope.

Interestingly, the trusting and following and obeying that we do today may well eliminate whatever it was that we were worrying might happen tomorrow.

So when you read this, whenever it is, as often as you thing about it, do this:

Say “God, let me see you today.”

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From Learning a new routine. Reading the Sermon on the Mount a little bit at a time