Today’s devotional comes to us from Dominic Minatel, a senior Religion and Communication Studies Major from Indianapolis, Indiana. After graduation, Dominic plans to pursue a Master of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and he hopes to work in the field of youth ministry. During his time at TCU, Dominic has been involved in Disciples on Campus, University Christian Church, and “Be the Neighbor,” a ministry that equips youth and adults to live lives of love, service, and justice. I have had the honor of knowing Dominic during his time at TCU, and he is outgoing, kind, deep-thinking, and one who routinely seeks the wellbeing of others. I am grateful to know him, and I hope you enjoy his words today!
Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Reflection:
How can someone talk about college life without mentioning anxiety? Sure, listening to people who have graduated and been separated from this life for a couple of years (or decades) can make it seem like these 4 years are not only the prime time in someone’s life, but the last opportunity to experience youth with all the power and freedom that comes with being an adult. But as any current student will tell you, this isn’t the perfect combination they were looking for, in fact the exact opposite, the pressures of adulting with the overbearing of parents trying to look after their kids creates a pressure cooker enough to set anyone off. Even in a time like Lent, worrying about if you are doing enough, following the goals you set for yourself on a whim on Ash Wednesday when someone asked, “what are you giving up for lent,” these just add layer after layer of stress and pressure onto our already chaotic lives in this time of midterms. Even the break can cause stress and anxiety as people planned and prepared for spring break, putting on the pressure to have the perfect break and to maximize fun, again can have the opposite effect.
But of course, there is good news and hope, you are not alone, and it is going to be ok. That exam you’re stress-cramming for, even if you don’t get the result you want, there is time to correct it, and it won’t end your college career. That break you’ve been planning for weeks, it’ll have its ups and downs, but come Monday first day of classes, you’ll be glad to have spent some time away. And looking down the end of the school year, graduation, and what comes next; what comes next is opportunities to grow into a fantastic new version of yourself. So take time this lent season, be mindful of today and the gifts it brings, for tomorrow it will be gone, and so will tomorrow bring new problems, but also, new possibilities.
Let us pray.
Gracious God,
As we seek to follow you, may this Lenten journey greet us with new possibilities. May we find comfort in breathing in today and not yet carrying the weight and worries of tomorrow. Grant us the peace of your presence. Amen.