I Have Everything I Need

Tuesday night I watched the ABC Primetime special on Randy Pausch and his famous talk "The Last Lecture." For those who haven't heard of him, Randy just passed away from pancreatic cancer, but shortly after being diagnosed he gave a talk to his class at Carnegie Mellon University about the lessons he has learned in his life. Below is the reprised version of the lecture he gave on Oprah if you'd like to watch:

I had originally heard of him because of this episode and, like everyone else, was incredibly inspired by this man. But while watching the Primetime interview, I actually found myself more drawn to the sensibilities of Randy's wife. Diane Sawyer was interviewing her and she spoke a lot about finding acceptance and the mantra she repeats to herself when she feels as though it's all too much: I have everything I need. I was drawn to her because that is what I say to myself daily.

My friends and I use the book Traveling Light by Max Lucado for our faith sharing group... each chapter focuses on a verse from the 23rd Psalm and chapter six is the one that stood out to me. The verse is: He leads me beside the still waters. Seems like a simple statement, but Lucado focuses on the fact that God leads. He doesn't push us into something and say good luck. He walks ahead of us and tells us where to go, where to turn, how quickly to walk. And in order to do all of that, He gives us all the direction and help we need when we need it.

I guess it's the epitome of living in the moment. I choose to trust that God is going to provide me with what is required of me when it is required. At times I would like Him to supply me with what I need ahead of time because it's hard to face the unknown. But I have to have faith and trust in His perfect timing. The opposite of that trust is worry, so when I begin to worry about my present, my future, my life... I stop and remind myself that I have everything I need.

So I told myself that when waiting in the doctor's office Wednesday. In the end there were no new medications for me to try and no great changes in store for my day-to-day living, but I had the words to describe my pain and symptoms to my doctor when I needed them. And he listened as I needed him to. He was worried about my lungs so he got me in to the allergist across the hall for a consultation right then. I had what I needed. When I needed it.

Lucado points to a passage in Hebrews that says, "We will find grace to help us when we need it." I trust that. Even when I don't feel it... even when worry creeps in... I choose to remember that I have everything I need.

And I promise you do too.