A thought popped into my head when I was performing my dad's funeral over 11 years ago at the Vineyard Church in Franklin.
The idea wasn't in my notes, so I can't believe I actually spoke it. But surprisingly it made sense -- at least to me anyway -- and it is something that I have had to remind myself of many times in the years since then.
I was illustrating the point that sometimes when life gets really hard, I have to resist this temptation to overly worry, which can lead to the urge to control people and/or stress out over the outcome to certain situations, all in the name of getting my way.
“I'm sometimes too impatient to wait for a solution,” I said. “And when I let my mind go off too far in the wrong direction, my fears can get the best of me. When that happens, I’m not at my best.”
Though Dad struggled all his life on why God allows bad people to prosper and good people to suffer, he passed away knowing he would spend eternity where peace and love defy anything we can imagine. Since this life is only a journey to the next one, why be so afraid all the time?
With that reality already established, you would have thought this would have been a great time to quote something from Proverbs or to talk about a famous person and her way of handling tough situations.
But nope. Not me. I thought of Barney Fife.
…
YOU KNOW BARNEY Fife, of course. He was Andy Taylor’s best friend and only deputy who made sure the streets of Mayberry were always safe on “The Andy Griffith Show.” Barney's favorite slogan was to "Nip it. Nip it in the bud."
Barney was constantly facing difficult situations, like when an inmate from the state prison was on the loose or a house was haunted or a bully who had been arrested was intent on kicking Barney’s butt, just as soon as he was out of uniform.
Though Barney always barked as if he had everything under control, underneath he was afraid of practically everything. In a funny, lovable way, he was probably the biggest scaredy-cat who ever lived.
I reckon that’s why Barney came to mind as I stood in front of 300 people the evening of Dad’s funeral.
I may want to think I’m Harrison Ford in the movie “Air Force One” when it comes to facing difficult situations, but I suspect I don’t always come across so boldly. After all, fear does not bring out the best in anybody.
And so I talked about the Barney who lives inside all of us.
We worry, we stress out, and we lash out because we are afraid of what can possibly happen. We are miserable every step along the way. We are convinced doomsday is right around the corner.
And then by some miraculous set of circumstances, we get through the struggle.
Barney never knew it, but his savior was always Andy, who worked behind the scenes to make everything work out.
And we may not always acknowledge it, but our Andy comes from up above, in the stars and in the heavens, also quietly working in our favor. Like Dad, I may not always understand why certain things happen, but I’m convinced this life is only a journey to the next one. And our loving, omnipotent Creator is behind all of it. So why be so afraid?
…
I HAVE NEEDED THIS reminder lately, because life has a way of throwing storms my way, try as I might to avoid them. I am blessed in a million ways, with a great family, a rewarding job with excellent co-workers, and good health. But still, some days, I find myself feeing a little bit like Barney.
So that's when I am forced to listen to my own sermon from 11 years ago.
When I ask myself:
“What if…?”
“How come…?”
“Why does..?”
I need to quiet myself and listen to the still, small voice inside of me. Then, just when I need the reassurance the most, I will experience my heavenly Andy walking right beside me, whistling, smiling, and promising me that everything is going to be okay.
He will repeat the words that appear time and time again in His all-time bestseller.
“Fear not…”
And I will stop the worrying. Or, as Barney's would say, "Nip it. Nip it in the bud."
The idea wasn't in my notes, so I can't believe I actually spoke it. But surprisingly it made sense -- at least to me anyway -- and it is something that I have had to remind myself of many times in the years since then.
I was illustrating the point that sometimes when life gets really hard, I have to resist this temptation to overly worry, which can lead to the urge to control people and/or stress out over the outcome to certain situations, all in the name of getting my way.
“I'm sometimes too impatient to wait for a solution,” I said. “And when I let my mind go off too far in the wrong direction, my fears can get the best of me. When that happens, I’m not at my best.”
Though Dad struggled all his life on why God allows bad people to prosper and good people to suffer, he passed away knowing he would spend eternity where peace and love defy anything we can imagine. Since this life is only a journey to the next one, why be so afraid all the time?
With that reality already established, you would have thought this would have been a great time to quote something from Proverbs or to talk about a famous person and her way of handling tough situations.
But nope. Not me. I thought of Barney Fife.
…
YOU KNOW BARNEY Fife, of course. He was Andy Taylor’s best friend and only deputy who made sure the streets of Mayberry were always safe on “The Andy Griffith Show.” Barney's favorite slogan was to "Nip it. Nip it in the bud."
Barney was constantly facing difficult situations, like when an inmate from the state prison was on the loose or a house was haunted or a bully who had been arrested was intent on kicking Barney’s butt, just as soon as he was out of uniform.
Though Barney always barked as if he had everything under control, underneath he was afraid of practically everything. In a funny, lovable way, he was probably the biggest scaredy-cat who ever lived.
I reckon that’s why Barney came to mind as I stood in front of 300 people the evening of Dad’s funeral.
I may want to think I’m Harrison Ford in the movie “Air Force One” when it comes to facing difficult situations, but I suspect I don’t always come across so boldly. After all, fear does not bring out the best in anybody.
And so I talked about the Barney who lives inside all of us.
We worry, we stress out, and we lash out because we are afraid of what can possibly happen. We are miserable every step along the way. We are convinced doomsday is right around the corner.
And then by some miraculous set of circumstances, we get through the struggle.
Barney never knew it, but his savior was always Andy, who worked behind the scenes to make everything work out.
And we may not always acknowledge it, but our Andy comes from up above, in the stars and in the heavens, also quietly working in our favor. Like Dad, I may not always understand why certain things happen, but I’m convinced this life is only a journey to the next one. And our loving, omnipotent Creator is behind all of it. So why be so afraid?
…
I HAVE NEEDED THIS reminder lately, because life has a way of throwing storms my way, try as I might to avoid them. I am blessed in a million ways, with a great family, a rewarding job with excellent co-workers, and good health. But still, some days, I find myself feeing a little bit like Barney.
So that's when I am forced to listen to my own sermon from 11 years ago.
When I ask myself:
“What if…?”
“How come…?”
“Why does..?”
I need to quiet myself and listen to the still, small voice inside of me. Then, just when I need the reassurance the most, I will experience my heavenly Andy walking right beside me, whistling, smiling, and promising me that everything is going to be okay.
He will repeat the words that appear time and time again in His all-time bestseller.
“Fear not…”
And I will stop the worrying. Or, as Barney's would say, "Nip it. Nip it in the bud."