And It Came to Pass
by Steve Goodier
As I stared out the rear window of the bus, I thought, 'What if I die? This may
be my last night ever!' My son suggested we take an all-night bus through the
Peruvian Andes down to the coast. I was prepared to be driven over high mountain
passes and on winding roads. We live in the Rocky Mountains of western United
States. But I was not prepared for roads so narrow that the bus had to stop and
let on-coming traffic around; or the high speed at which the bus rounded
hairpin curves; or roads that were unpaved for long stretches, no guardrails and
almost vertical slopes just inches from our speeding wheels. Nor was I prepared
to ride in something that passed anything slower than the speed of sound -- even
around blind mountain curves.
I thought that perhaps I could sleep during the trip, but the excitement and
anxiety of what reminded me of an amusement park ride kept my heart skipping
beats and my eyes wide open. I thought, 'What if I die?' and began to count all
the possible ways this bus could slide off the mountainside, not the least of
which was the fact that the driver was working a 12-hour shift. What if he
became sleepy? My mind was just too filled with "what ifs..." to find rest. I
needed an antidote to worry.
Then I remembered five comforting words: "And it came to pass..." Not
coincidentally, the phrase is found throughout the Bible. It's an intriguing
phrase..."and it came to pass." I've never read, "And it came to stay." It's
always, "And it came to pass..."
Whenever I have encountered problems over the years, they came to pass. My
anxieties and worries always proved to be temporary. In fact, I have forgotten
most of the fears that once kept me awake at night.
I've learned that most tough times and impossible situations eventually come to
pass. And sufficient strength can be found for those few that may linger a
while.
Besides, what could I do? The bus would either make it or not. Like New York
Yankees outfielder Mickey Rivers once said, "Ain't no sense in worrying about
things you got control over, 'cause if you got control over them, ain't no sense
worrying. And there ain't no sense worrying about things you got no control
over, 'cause if you got no control over them, ain't no sense worrying about
them."
So I rested in the peace that, like most of what I worry about, this will come
to pass. I began to enjoy the rollicking ride, much like one would enjoy a
roller coaster. And before long, the sun rose on a beautiful Peruvian landscape.
It was true, I had nothing to worry about. This, too, came to pass.
I suspect the same can be said about that problem that worries you.
Steve Goodier
Publisher@LifeSupportSystem.com is a professional speaker, consultant and
author of numerous books. Visit his site for more information, or to sign up for
his FREE newsletter of Life, Love and Laughter at
http://LifeSupportSystem.com.