29/04/2026
Me: Hey God.
God: Hey John.
Me: I'm not well.
God: What's up? You've just been staring at the ceiling fan all morning.
Me: I'm so worried about the future.
God: That sounds like a terrible use of your time. What are you worried about?
Me: The future.
God: John...
Me: Yeah?
God: Quit spending your days worrying about "What if_____ happens to me?" and start focusing on HOW you are living your life instead.
Me: I don't know that I can. I'm constantly anxious that something bad is going to happen to me in the future.
God: I've got something to tell you. Some bad things will happen to you in the future.
Me: That's terrible!
God: But that's not it. Some amazing things will also happen to you.
Me: Well, how can I prevent the bad stuff from happening?
God: Most of the bad stuff you can't prevent. What will happen will happen.
Me: It sounds like You have given me zero control over my life.
God: That's not true. You have quite a bit of control.
Me: What do I have control of?
God:
How firmly you hold my hand.
How much love you give away.
How present you are to the miracles I surround you with daily.
How many times you get back up after you fall.
How you treat your neighbor.
How desperately you search for Me in your life.
How hard you fight for those you can't fight for themselves.
How much beauty you take notice of in My creation.
How you honor the gift of your life.
How you much you let other people define who you are.
How you raise your children.
How fearlessly you forgive those who have hurt you.
How much peace you sow in the world.
How relentless you will be in pursuit of your dreams.
How loudly you sing in the shower.
How much time of your time you will give to those who have been abandoned.
How many lies about yourself that you will allow yourself to believe.
How hard you try.
How open your heart is.
How you embrace the wonder of each new day.
How much stage time you give to despair in your mind.
How you use your imagination.
How you look at other people.
How much you allow yourself to grow.
How much light you spread.
How softly you look at the poor.
How many enemies you make.
How you choose to spend your free time.
How much water you drink.
How you speak to people you have power over.
How you fashion your life into My instrument.
How many times you first choose to close your ears and open your ears instead.
How much energy you give to all of the regrets in your past.
How much energy you give to all of your fears for the future.
How deeply you laugh.
How much judgement on other people that you give.
How loudly you protest injustice.
How much you will gossip about other people.
How you hard your fight the urge to deny yourself from feeling what ever it is that you need to feel in the moment.
How you will navigate living in our world with an open hand instead of a clenched fist.
How curious you remain about the vast world I've made for you.
How you much dignity you show those who disagree with you politically.
How you build on your relationship with Me.
How you think of yourself.
How many people you will serve.
How to remain joyful even in the midst of sorrow.
How -
Me: Okay. I think I get it. That's a pretty extensive list.
God: Yes - and there's one more thing you have control over that needs to go on the list.
Me: What's that?
God: How will you spend the rest of your day? Will you spend it fretting about what is waiting for you tomorrow? Will you spend it worrying about what happened yesterday? Or will you just get on with the adventure of your life that is taking place right now in this present moment?
Me: Alright. I'll give all of that some thought.
God: Want to go for a walk?
Me: I don't know. What if it rains? What if a stray dog confuses me for a fire hydrant. What if -
God: John...
Me: Oh, right...
~ by john roedel (johnroedel.com)
(Photo Credit: Ben Heilisson)
