“Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ That’s what those people who don’t know God are always thinking about. Don’t worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Tomorrow will have its own worries. – Matthew 6:31-34

Friday morning I put to rest one of the top-three competitors in the “what can we do to make Derek lose sleep” challenge for 2024.

Typically I do fairly well in the “Do not be anxious” category of faith. My go-to response to life in general is fairly mellow. Not “stick my head in the sand” mellow so much as “I really am blessed beyond reason so why sweat the small stuff?”

Rebekah and I did, of course, have children, which means we have lifetime membership for the baked in anxiety all parents experience – even after they are grown and raising their own families. But when it comes to day-to-day living I tend to do fairly well.

Currently we have added some special categories. First, our home restoration; then the “please-oh-please let our house sell” situation in Wake Forest; finally the year-long probating of my mother’s will that does such an effective job of stretching out the process of losing a loved one.

Check it off!

So yesterday I was finally able to strike probate from the list and for that I am extremely grateful.

I parked on the roof in downtown Raleigh (my go-to almost every time I have the opportunity – “Why I Always Park on the Roof“), then put up my umbrella and walked a half-mile in the rain.

Interestingly, the paperwork was not nearly so complex as I had imagined and I was able to walk everything through at the Wake County Clerk of the Court’s office downtown Raleigh with the minimum of fuss.

It helped that some of Hurricane Helene’s outer bands were lashing Raleigh with torrential downpours and gusty winds. In consequence I had the 12th floor office suite to myself. It also helped that every employee I interacted with over my three visits was friendly, courteous and professional.

I understand that, in the great scheme of things, “complete Mum’s probate” was little more than a two-Advil headache compared to the catastrophic impact of this week’s flooding on so many. I am absolutely mindful of the devastation people are facing and my heart goes out to them.

At the same time we all live with cares and concerns on a multitude of levels, and the words of Jesus are not supposed to be a panacea or bromide, they are supposed to be for me and my two-Advil headache, and for you and the very real challenges you have for today. Jesus is concerned with each one of us as individuals – children of God he knows and loves – in the specific reality that is our life… today.

Grateful for that truth, not matter what, rain or shine – DEREK