I have decided what to give up for Lent. I have given up difficult things, caffeine, fiction reading, and the ever traditional chocolate. But this time, I am going to try to give up something really, really difficult. I am going to try to quit worrying. It was rude of Don to snort when I told him. I don’t think he believed I could do it, and short of a miracle, he was right. I am, once again, sleepless in Mineral — fretting and fussing over things I can do nothing about. It is useless and nonproductive, so why do I do it? I think the winners of the current situation are going to be the makers of anxiety medication. I have never taken it before, but I am considering asking my doctor about it.

So it all boils down to this, do I believe what I preached. A search of my sermons for the topic “fear not” was very productive, 57 sermons that mentioned “fear not.” I remember one Christmas preaching about the “Fear not angels” and passing out angels from my extensive Christmas decoration collection. And here I sit, 1:20 a.m., in front of the fire, unable to turn off the anxiety voices in my head.

Psalm 42: ¹¹  Why are you cast down, O my soul,
          and why are you disquieted within me?
     Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
          my help and my God.

Why indeed? My soul is disquieted within me. Help my unbelief!