Troubled by Troubles by Dr. Virgil Fry, Executive Director, Lifeline Chaplaincy

Trouble makes us one with every human being in the world.
-Oliver Wendell Holmes

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
-Jesus, John 14:1

Trouble, troubles, troubled, troubling.
Pivotal, overworked words that spring to our lips
when trying to make sense of that which seems senseless.
We speak of being in trouble
of having troubles
of troubled minds
of troubling news.
We lament that which troubles us,
And seek to regain our equilibrium, by naming the trouble
by describing the accompanying feelings
by looking for solutions.
How appropriate: the essence of faith is
To treat trouble as an enemy to conquer
as an ally who teaches, who befriends.
It is difficult, indeed turbulent
To encounter troubles while we wish for smooth sailing,
calm waters.
Sailing is seldom smooth,
Waters seldom calm as we seek to live, really live,
and not merely survive this trouble-filled voyage of life.
So help us, Lord
In our quest to find meaning
and balance
and stability
In a sea that's often troubled.
Remind us of those who have already navigated
what is to us uncharted water.
Remind us of those who sail with us now
who also need steadying hands along the way.
And in the times of darkness-induced anxiety
when waves break over the bow,
and fears wash over our soul,
May we be steadied, bolstered, and strengthened
By You, the One who stands unshaken in the face of storms,
who gently whispers to us:
Peace, be still.

--Virgil Fry

RESOURCES
		Troubled by Troubles Trouble makes us one with every human being in the world. -Oliver Wendell Holmes Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. -Jesus, John 14:1 Trouble, troubles, troubled, troubling. Pivotal, overworked words that spring to our lips when trying to make sense of that which seems senseless. We speak of being in trouble of having troubles of troubled minds of troubling news. We lament that which troubles us, And seek to regain our equilibrium, by naming the trouble by describing the accompanying feelings by looking for solutions. How appropriate: the essence of faith is To treat trouble as an enemy to conquer as an ally who teaches, who befriends. It is difficult, indeed turbulent To encounter troubles while we wish for smooth sailing, calm waters. Sailing is seldom smooth, Waters seldom calm as we seek to live, really live, and not merely survive this trouble-filled voyage of life. So help us, Lord In our quest to find meaning and balance and stability In a sea that's often troubled. Remind us of those who have already navigated what is to us uncharted water. Remind us of those who sail with us now who also need steadying hands along the way. And in the times of darkness-induced anxiety when waves break over the bow, and fears wash over our soul, May we be steadied, bolstered, and strengthened By You, the One who stands unshaken in the face of storms, who gently whispers to us: Peace, be still. --Virgil Fry