“I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.” ~ Mark Twain

Welcome to the Friday edition where I will be dealing with subjects reflecting this, that, and the other. You've noticed that? Good. It is already May 29, 2026, and, this year, is passing so quickly it almost seems like I should be sitting outside in a lawn chair with my walking cane held up in the air while hollering at the passing cars to slow down. I will not put that one of the bucket list I do not have but I will, from time to time, consider it as an alternative to other stereotypical activities. Back to the concept behind my blog. I saw a word I had never seen or known about. That shouldn't be hard to consider when linguists suggest there's somewhere around one million words to choose from in the English language. Here's the word I was talking about, farrago. It means: A highly confused mixture or hodgepodge of different things. Sentence example: My blog is often a farrago of accumulated information packets. Yay! I think I have found my calling. There are times when I feel I can claim title to some of these explanations for my status: Not the brightest bulb in the chandelier / Not the sharpest knife in the drawer; The lights are on, but nobody’s home; A sandwich short of a picnic; Bless his heart, he's a little slow on the uptake; Off in the weeds; Not playing with a full deck; Off in his own little world; Out to lunch; Spaced out; and, Not with it. I report you decide. I may try to write something incorporating all of those idioms and sayings. The joke is on me and as so often has been said, "I resemble that remark." Ha!

 

The Mark Twain quote used in the title is interesting. Recent studies confirm that 85% to 91% of the things people worry about never actually happen. Furthermore, for the remaining 10–15% that do occur, research reveals that people handle the situations much better than expected, meaning only about 3% of worries are ever truly justified. The Creator knows the most about people since He created people. Duh! He also knew that we would, as fallen sinful creatures, we would be prone to worry. And, even as believers we can fall into the worry trap. Therefore, here are some verses He inspired to help those who have put their faith in Him but still deal with this very common but faithless inclination: Philippians 4:6-7  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~ 1 Peter 5:7  "Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." ~ Proverbs 12:25  "Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad." ~ Matthew 6:25-34  "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ..." ~ John 14:27  ~ "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." ~ Isaiah 41:10 ~ "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Verses quoted from the English Standard Version, ESV.) That, my friend, is but a sample. There are dozens more. Be encouraged. God is with you. Stay tuned for the next coming attraction. (That's only an empty promise at the moment because right now I have nothing.) May God bless each one. Amen.