Sunday, December 16, 2012

Perspective

I received fantastic spiritual advice last night from a retired priest.

So to get the metaphor, open up your fingers and put your hand 2 inches from your face.  What do you see? Can you see your hand?

Then move your hand back as far as possible. Can you see your hand now?

Anxiety means "over-thinking a problem." We have a problem. Then we over think the problem and the resulting anxiety is worse than any problem we have. Worry and anxiety also never, ever lead to a real solution. That's because too much focus on a problem means we loose all perspective. We actually can't see the problem clearly because we're watching it too closely.

I thought that advice worked with everything from home-schooling worries to spiritual scruples.

Mary, Mother of God, helps us retain great peace this Advent.