The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? – Psalm 27

Some people are creative worriers. I know, because I am one of those people. I have been known to fret over that which might happen, as though it were a foregone conclusion. It drives my poor husband crazy. It’s not enough that I fear the worst. I must go that extra mile: concoct the worst case scenario, then embellish and spin it into a rococo catastrophe of operatic proportions. Then, after all is revealed in its actual, mundane reality, I become Roseanadanna, and sheepishly say “Never mind.” My doctor sent me a meme that I should probably have tattooed on my arm: Don’t believe everything you think.

And how.

Not all fears are groundless. Sometimes I blithely trundle along until I get a sudden thump on the noggin, and everything grinds to a halt. An unexpected visit from a long lost friend, or a chance encounter. Here a power outage, there a traffic jam. A soggy $20 bill spotted in a puddle next to my car. Life is full of surprises. That’s the way God rolls.

The fear of the unknown can certainly cause anxiety. Imagine opening a door into an unknown space. It is dark inside. Until you flip on the lights, you know not whether it is a broom closet or a ballroom. It’s best to flip on that light switch before your imagination carries you away.

And what about the unexpected gifts? You plan out your day to high heaven, arranging each task into its own neat, 15-minute cubby. Then someone stops by and asks if you have a minute. Everything is set aside. All you can do is relax and go with it. But it is that talk that turns out to be the gift. The Spirit flows into those spaces created by interrupted plans. Yes, inconvenience can be a frustrating if we allow it. It is much less stressful if we can regard it as gift. Another opportunity to smile, laugh at yourself, and encounter holiness.