Today, I just said a quick prayer, opened the Bible at random, and resolved to post here the first passage that grabbed my eye.

Since it was one of those rare pages I actually highlighted a passage, that certainly cut down on confusion as to where my eyes first landed.

So, just a little scripture to share with you, and a couple quick thoughts, and then I can start whittling away at the next installment of my blog novel and hopefully post that this weekend.

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his. And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding. He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. Book of Daniel, chapter 2, verses 20-22, King James Version.

This is part of a passage in which Daniel is praying to God for the discernment to interpret a dream that had been troubling the King. I highlighted this passage a long time ago because I find it useful to remind myself that I’m not in charge.

Yes, I can achieve things. I can solve problems. I have the occassional deep thought or great idea. I don’t just sit on my ass waiting for God to give me stuff or solve my difficulties. But at the same time, it’s easy to think that it’s all within my power to handle. Fact is, my own life is too big for me to handle alone; what the hell makes me think the world around me is something I can truly control?

I have to recognize that sometimes life will hand me diamonds, and sometimes a lump of coal. I can’t let myself get so caught up in the good or the bad that I forget this world isn’t mine. I’m a visitor here. I’m passing through. I’m a steward of some small part of it. But I don’t own it.

True wisdom, true strength and true peace are only of value if I include the guys upstairs. If I don’t bring God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit into the picture, I’m doing it on my own, and I take a big risk doing that. I include them, and have faith in them to take care of me over the long run, and then I can stop worrying so much. About whether my latest client check will arrive this weekend. About who will be our next president of the United States. About whether Little Girl Blue will give up the binky before the year is out. About why bad people prosper so much in the earthly realm.

Not always easy to do. But necessary.

I’ll try to be back to being more snarky by the next time I post. All this philosophizing lately is going to make y’all think I’m going soft.