Worriers are visionaries minus the optimism–Ed Welch

Ed Welch keeps on knocking them out of the ballpark in my estimation!

I’m continuing to work through his latest book, Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest, and today’s reading was particularly appropriate because YESTERDAY–totally by God’s GRACE!–I tackled a fear (entering the FEEDBACK I received from my dear “heresy-checking” friends on my DVD series), engaged in the battle (actually opened up Word and made the changes!), and … as usual … it wasn’t NEARLY as hard or scary as I had been making it up to be all these many weeks/months.

Aren’t big ol’ HARD STUFF projects often like that? We think, “That’s going to be IMPOSSIBLE!” … but then, afterwards, we have to muse, “That really wasn’t so bad.”

Dr. Welch addresses this exact topic in Chapter 4 (Anxiety and Worry Chime In):

“When you are actually in the battle, you aren’t thinking about fear. The hard part is the night before. Your anxiety level rises when you hear the drumbeat of the opposing army getting closer and closer and all you can do is wait. Anxiety about the future event is usually worse than the event itself.

There is a story line to human life that includes a past, present, and future. Fear spans them all. Fear can be triggered by the past, react to crises in the present, or anticipate them in the future. Its preferred time zone, however, is the future. Dread, panic, nervousness, worry, and anxiety all speak of our potential future vulnerability …

Here is where adult imaginations show their mettle. Imaginations are our ability to consider things that don’t presently exist. Sometimes we call it vision. A visionary is one who looks ahead and envisions the trajectory of a church, business, or individual life. A talented visionary is one who can see future possibilities and persuade others of that future. Visionaries are rarely right (at least in the details), tend to be optimistic, and are always confident.

Worries are visionaries minus the optimism.” (emphases added)

Oooooooh! So much more I’d like to share BUT lovie bear muffin tater tot just woke up and it’s time for some snuggles! (Man! You can sure get a lot done 4AM-8AM when you’re rested. Fun fun fun!)

Oh–did I tell you that Sophia has NO IDEA that Uncle Fred and Aunt Kali will be here in JUST A FEW HOURS for her Backyardigans Volcano Sisters Luau 4th Birthday Party tomorrow? She is going to FREAK OUT!! I think I haven’t been this excited about a surprise since we gave Fred his (gorgeous!) solid-top guitar as a wedding gift at our rehearsal dinner 12+ years ago!

If only I can NOT blow it and ruin the surprise in the next four hours.

Happy Friday, all!

Yours,
Tara B.