Phillipian’s 4:13 for pete’s sake!

By Liz on June 4, 2016

This first week of June 2016 was kind of awful. Maybe more accurately, as my Mama said in a supportive email to me, “senseless” as in there is no making sense of what happened – re the UCLA shooting.

I have not been on campus for fifteen years, but I have consulted for a department of UCLA since 1991 … nearly 25 years and for several years occupied a cubicle on campus. I know many and although not of the academic population, some from the department I work with were at Engineering IV on June 1 and the building housing the department I work with is on campus and so part of the lockdown.

I was glued to the online news about two hours in. Although I was relieved that things were not worse … still: A good man lost: a father/husband/son/brother/uncle – a young woman left to raise a son and daughter without their father. It is beyond heartbreaking.

And the additional fallout of fear, insecurity, young lives disrupted: the students … especially those in Engineering, but also all of the others who dealt with the unknown on that day.

What to do, how to move forward? If it seems challenging to me, removed by 1500 miles, what must it be like for those closer. And for that young family of the professor.

I’ve written blog posts in my head about this week, but this morning I thought about Phillipians 4:13 and the surrounding verses. And knowing that I’ve include those in previous challenging times, I went searching my posts. And I found a post which said everything I wanted to say. It is repeated below but with different photos.

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The sorrows of our earthly world have been receiving an enormous amount of “press”. I, and I imagine every one of you reading this post also have some private sorrow, hurt or worry that feels overwhelming.

And, not that there is not a time for sadness or grief, but I believe that we are also called, by our Creator, to live with Joy and thankfulness, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Father Tim, a character in Jan Karon’s Mitford series, often said to himself or to one of his parishioners: “Phillipians 4:13 for pete’s sake!”

“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength”

And earlier in Chapter 4:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” Verses 5-7

Powerful stuff. When I feel like it is impossible to not be anxious, I hear Father Tim’s voice in my head: “Phillipians 4:13 for pete’s sake!”

And then a verse right smack dab in the middle of those above…

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. […] And the God of peace will be with you.“ Verse 9

I don’t need to look very far to find things that meet those conditions:

My choice on what to think on is these things and to lift all who have suffered loss and those who fear – in prayer to Him – who governs all.

Phillipian’s 4:13 for pete’s sake!