Letting Go of Attachments To Worry

The other day I was reading The Way To Love, an excellent little book by Anthony Di Mello, which I highly recommend.  

While the entire book is pure gold when it comes to dispensing the wisdom of overcoming attachments to this world and truly following Jesus, there was one passage that just got to me.  

Di Mello wrote something so profound in one of the chapters of the book that I've been thinking about it for days.  Here it is:  

Think of yourself in a concert hall listening to the strains of the sweetest music when you suddenly remember that you forgot to lock your car.  You are anxious about the car, you cannot walk out of the hall and you cannot enjoy the music.  There you have a perfect image of life as it is lived by most human beings. 

When I read that passage, I had an instant resonation with it because I've been there, you have too.

Maybe you weren't in a concert hall "listening to the strains of sweet music," but it could have been when you were simply trying to enjoy a moment of quiet, or dinner with friends, or a romantic evening with your partner or spouse.  

And maybe it wasn't the anxiety over worrying about an unlocked car that got into your head.  Maybe you read an email on your phone, or you got a text that you just had to answer.  Or it could have been that you started fretting over a conversation you had earlier in the day, or you were internalizing the criticism you'd received from a co-worker.  

Whatever it was, suddenly and swiftly invaded your thoughts, stole your peace, and rendered you unable to be fully present, peaceful and joyful in the moment.  

Sound familiar?  

There's a wonderful passage the fourth chapter of Paul's letter to the church at Philippi that speaks some straight up truth directly into this malady that we all suffer from.  He writes:  

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus   

At this point, most of are probably thinking, "Easier said than done, Paul!"   

Truthfully, Paul knew that it wasn't easy to simply let go of anxiety and the cares of this world.  Which is why he urged his readers to lift it all up to God---fervently and often.  

You see, Paul knew that the only way to break the attachments to this world that keep us from being truly alive was to constantly be in communication with the Divine.   

May you find the strength to cast all your cares and anxieties on God today and every day, knowing that God cares for you more than you will ever now.  And may you trust that letting go of your unhealthy attachments will bring you less anxiety, not more.  

May it be true for you, and may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. Amen.