Faith
The Sunday Age
Sunday November 22, 2009
AS END-OF-YEAR deadlines rise on the horizon like mercury in summer thermometers, so do our anxiety levels. I have endured my own share of anxiety in recent weeks, in the form of my daughter's year 12 examinations, and my personal medical examinations regarding a potential hereditary disease.After being widowed six years ago, I should be no stranger to stress, and probably even a good consoler. But this year was different. As a person of faith, I sought solace in Matthew's gospel: "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"Indeed, our sleepless nights over examinations were futile, adding lines beneath our eyes, not hours to our lives. These days, I think the corollary is "if anything, worrying will subtract an hour from your life".We all know the symptoms and effects of chronic worrying: sleep deprivation, unhealthy diet and depleted immunity. Ironically, such traits may inflame the ailment or affliction.During school exams, students are distracted by fear of disappointment and the high expectations of "stakeholders". All this wasted energy could be invested in productive preparations.The oncology suites I frequented for years with my wife echoed with the words, "I was worried sick". Medical patients often waste so much time pondering the worst-case and what-if scenarios. Instead, the worriers could have knocked on other doors rather than suffer in silence, waiting for the next results, the next appointment, the next sealed envelope containing jargon labels about their life expectancy. I realised that the expression, "It took years off my life", might be literal.The New Testament is indeed a testimony against fear, with "do not be afraid" as a recurring theme. If the creator can shower daily bread on the flora and fauna, then how much will he love his ultimate creation?So the antidote to fear is faith. This does not mean blind faith that we surrender to God and do nothing. We should use our God-given brain and have the courage to change what we can, the serenity to accept what we cannot change and the wisdom to know the difference (serenity prayer).It is this sky of serenity that is often lacking when the dark clouds of panic set in. This means that rather than pretend we can take complete control, we should recognise we are passengers in a vehicle that is driven by the most trusted driver. This way, we are buffered from the turbulence of the journey as we cross life's hazardous intersections.Worry is indeed a wasted emotion.
© 2009 The Sunday Age