Imagine a father or mother asking their child (who just shared how much they liked such and such a song): "Why do you like/insist on listening to secular music?" And this parent tearing up, insinuating that it must break God's heart and his/her heart to do such a thing. This person became so attached to the notion that secular music was a bad poison that would effect their children in the same way that evil, secular music had become a soundtrack to the sin in their past life ... they entrenched their mind so deep into this belief that they became emotional when they saw this viewpoint violated or disagreed with. What a shame that this person might manipulate another with emotional pressure -- especially if he or she was completely wrong about their assumption!
How do we get so misled?
I can relate to this in a small way. This morning when I arrived two of the three usual feline greeters came up the driveway to meet me. Mercy, however, was nowhere to be found. This has happened before, as the wandering cat (not always the same one) turns up later in the day. My mind, though, will start to wonder, 'Did Mercy get eaten by wolves? Did Mercy get stolen? Mercy has no collar on. Someone may have assumed that this cat is not owned by someone.' It goes on and on and I could actually start getting worried.
That is so lame -- that my imagination would go wild like that. I have made a mental note to pick up another flea collar for Mercy; and it's true that this cat could be gone, but it's probably not the case. There's absolutely no need or reasonable basis to step into the area of worry.
God actually went out of His way to tell us not to worry about things. Doctors can probably vouch for this idea as well; as worry and stress probably work against the well-being and health of a body.
It's kinda like what McManus has been touching on lately about trust. Worry is like the opposite of trust.
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at January 29, 2008 08:34 AM