Kristin Tovar
“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
—Matthew 6:34
Dear friends,
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It reminds us to take mental health seriously, as Jesus clearly models while instructing us not to take on more than a day’s worth of trouble at a time. We are not built to hold more than this, and recognizing our human limitations is not only preventative care, it is also wisdom.
Despite the differences in our individual lives, circumstances, or genetic makeup, merely telling someone not to worry can feel insufficient to bring any real comfort in these times. And yet, Jesus’ words here in Matthew are exactly what we need these days.
In the past few years, I have heard heartbreaking stories of decline in children’s mental health. Our modern society is filled with things that are not filling us with good. Often this comes down to things that take us out of the tangible, out of the present, perhaps moving us into fear or stress or simply into the lure of constant content that promises entertainment only to become a distraction from the beauty of a moment shared with nature, with God, with one another.
Staying present in one day takes active work. Recently, in my own practice of noticing, I saw a gathering of clouds that looked just like ocean waves. I quickly called for my daughter to come outside and enjoy with me. Later, we learned this phenomenon is known as fluctus clouds, a rare and fleeting sight.
It is an act of trust to let go of what tomorrow might hold, but this trust creates peace. When Jesus invites us to live free of worry, the way the birds, wildflowers, and grass do, we are not only freed from the weight of the future and its worries, but also invited into the good gifts and moments of NOW.
Life is always fluctuating. In uncertainty, we can find comfort in things of constancy, such as God’s provision for the simple things in life, things we might miss without slowing down. Our call is to resist the hollow temptation of worry and move towards a life that exists in total trust in the unshakable love God has for us and is evident in all of Creation. This embodied trust creates ripple effects that will benefit children and youth, including vulnerable parts of ourselves, moving us into greater health and wholeness for all.
In Christ’s Love,
—Kristin