At 1:07 p.m. Tuesday, someone hacked into the Associated Press’ twitter account and posted a note that the White House had been hit by two bombs. The news media almost immediately discerned that this was a false lead, but Wall Street moves faster than the news.
In a flash, the stock market dropped more than 157 points. By 1:13 p.m., order was restored as the AP acknowledged the hack, and the market recovered almost all of its value.
Part of me wondered how much money somebody made on this malicious act. Another part of me was sure that I would have lost money on any trade made at that time. And still another part of me was remembering Paul’s admonition, “Do not worry about anything ... let your prayers be made known to God” (see Philippians 4:6).
Life without worry? Really?
Please step into my world and tell me not to worry about my kids and their schooling. Tell me not to worry about paying this month’s taxes and next month’s bills. Tell me not to worry about the violence I see in the news.
Even the printer at work is broken and we want to get this week’s bulletin and newsletter out the door. And Paul tells me not to worry! Please!
Just when my morning pity party reached its peak, I read this comment from the guy who found the Boston Marathon fugitive hiding in his boat. There is a move afoot to buy David Henneberry a boat to replace the bullet-ridden hulk sitting in his back yard.
His response: “It makes me feel wonderful that people that are thinking like that, but it is my boat. People lost lives and lost limbs. I’d rather that (the money) go to the One Fund Boston. To buy me a new boat is a wonderful thing, I don’t want that really. I would wish that they donate it to the One Fund Boston. They lost limbs. I lost a boat.”
So, what worry is consuming you today? May I suggest that you stop the hectic, harried and hurried pace of your life and take stock of what you do have?
It may just be that being thankful is the best medicine for the moment.
The Rev. Allen Bingham is pastor of Queen Street United Methodist Church in Kinston. Reach him at allen@queenstreetchurch.org.