Advent Journey - Day 19

Poem

Spring Morning by A A Milne

Where am I going? I don't quite know.
Down to the stream where the king-cups grow-
Up on the hill where the pine-trees blow-
Anywhere, anywhere. I don't know.

Where am I going? The clouds sail by,
Little ones, baby ones, over the sky.
Where am I going? The shadows pass,
Little ones, baby ones, over the grass.

If you were a cloud, and sailed up there,
You'd sail on water as blue as air,
And you'd see me here in the fields and say:
'Doesn't the sky look green today?'

Where am I going? The high rooks call:
'It's awful fun to be born at all.'
Where am I going? The ring-doves coo:
'We do have beautiful things to do.'

If you were a bird, and lived on high,
You'd lean on the wind when the wind came by,
You'd say to the wind when it took you away:
'That's where I wanted to go today!'

Where am I going? I don't quite know.
What does it matter where people go?
Down to the wood where the blue-bells grow-
Anywhere, anywhere. I don't know.

Reflection

In the West, from an early age people ask us, "What are you going to be when you grow up?" We expect our teens to make decisions that will shape their lives, to plan, to work for a certain goal, a certain aim. Those who don't conform to these expectations are derogatorily called 'drop outs', or worse 'losers'. 

As adults we are expected to be 'in control' of our lives, and many get anxious about their retirement planning, their career paths, their house ownership (or not). 

Of course, we have to be responsible, careful, and make provision for our own needs, and what we can contribute to the needs of others, and to support those organizations and charities which reflect the values we hold and build community, we also would benefit, I believe, with learning to let go a little, living in the moment, keeping our focus not on an uncertain future, nor anchored by the past - but being present in the, well, present. It could be healthy, rewarding, enjoyable, to allow the moment to take us, enjoying where we are rather than worrying about where we could, or should be. Every journey needs a little meandering. 

Scripture

Jesus said:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?

And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?”

For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today."

Matthew Chapter 6 verses 25-34