Worry, as you know can rob us of our joy. I want to share a very profound story with you today from the book Monday Mornings With my Old Pastor that I believe is worth keeping somewhere in your files and pulling it out when you feel like you are allowing worry to rob you of your joy.
We as human beings tend to live worried about a lot of things, but only a few things are really necessary. With that in mind, let this story speak to your heart.
A wise Greek man was exploring the land. He felt satisfied and proud of his knowledge of philosophy and science. On one occasion he had to cross a river, so he boarded a boat. The old boatman rhythmically rowed the oars and looked distractedly at the water. Then the wise man asked him, “Do you know astronomy?”
“No, sir.”
“Well, then, you’ve lost a fourth of your life. Do you know philosophy?”
“No, sir.”
“Well, then you’ve lost a fourth of your life. You must at least know ancient history.”
“No, sir.”
“Well, then you’ve lost another fourth of your life.”
Right then, a blast of wind violently shook the boat and tipped it over. Both men fell into the water. The boatman effortlessly swam toward the riverbank. Once there, he observed the wise man desperately waving his hands in the water. The river was quite swollen, and the current was strong.
“Do you know how to swim, my wise friend?”
“No!” he shouted in desperation. “I don’t know how to swim!”
“Well, then, you’ve lost all of your life.”
How many times do we allow the unimportant things worry us or control us? Let’s make it a practice to concentrate on the things that are important.
0 Comments