This thought of ten Boom's seems relevant to me as all around me there seems to be contained in every molecule some form of worry. Worry about transitions that are occurring, worry about what the future holds, worry about one's health and well-being. Worry. And all that worry truly saps you of your strength, the strength that is needed to keep moving forward, even if that forward movement can be headed to unknown sorrows hiding in tomorrows shadows.
"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength." -- Corrie ten Boom
The unknown sorrows of tomorrow that we envision may actually be pleasant surprises, filled with joy and possibilities. Unless you have the ability to foresee the future you could never know what lies ahead. I try to take a measure of what tomorrow was in reality by reflecting on my remembered history of how things turned out, and in most of the cases, life has surprised me in a positive way. Though I personally believe life is pretty equally balanced between "good" and "bad" occurrences during a lifetime, having them both is the only way to appreciate and enjoy this gift of life.
Misfortunes along our path could be the only road to personal salvation. I know that I learned a lot from troubles. No doubt if you truly live and are wholly engaged in this world, you will be part of and witness that people hurt, they will hurt you, bring you incredible joy, die, and be born. We will have bad hair days and good hair days. One day we get a perfect dental check-up and a few days later celebrating it you pull off a crown on a Jolly Rancher. That Jolly Rancher was giving you green apple, mouthwatering joy and then "boom," dental disaster.
You just never can anticipate what is around the bend. You don't see disaster as it approaches or celebratory events that surprise us. Until you arrive at those moments. And to refer back to ten Boom's quote, had you been worrying in anticipation of what might happen, would you have the strength to overcome or enjoy the arrived tomorrow?
I try to tell myself that worry would be like eating that Jolly Rancher candy for fear that I might dislodge a dental crown. As you were eating it, you could not appreciate that sweet, sticky joy of the moment.
And I remind myself all the times I enjoy that candy without disaster.
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