Much Ado About Nothing

In high school William Shakespeare was public enemy #1. I actually refused to read his poetry and plays because it wasn't what I wanted to read, being a vociferous reader of history, and to be entirely honest, Mad Magazine which at that time was crazy, but still clean. I received my worst grade ever, although I was a speed reader, in Literature because Mr. Shakespeare just didn't "crank my cylinders". How times change! I now not only read poetry, but write it. Perhaps Mr. Shakespeare is grinning at me right this moment.

He wrote the comedic play Much Ado About Nothing.  It made people laugh at the absurd. The "nothing" of which he wrote was petty thoughts on gossip, rumor and the like, most of it imagined! That brings me to my point: I spent all week thinking on nothing! Let me explain.

Much of my thinking was irrational. For those of you who just add "ir" to other words, in this case it works. "Irrational" thinking is not thinking rational. Does that help? Probably not. It's thinking on things that probably didn't happen, won't happen and maybe can't happen. Therefore, the week went by with me making Much Ado About Nothing.  All my thinking was non-value-added. I worried for nothing! I ruminated, which is an unhealthy thing to do. I went over and over in my mind for the cause of the perceived effect. Yes, a situation did change, but what drove the change? My answer to that would be mere possibilities. Then as I recyled the thought, more possibilities became evident. With more rumination all possibilities were responsible!

Although I multi-tasked the time, wasted idle thoughts is laughable since not only did the "causes" not apply, but the effect didn't even exist. My entire thought processes were Much Ado About Nothing!  (Laugh if you want Bill Shakespeare!).

Proverbs 12:25 (ESV) "Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad."

Ruminating causes anxiety. When we think irrationally about things, we get sick, but for some reason we keep on doing it! Sometimes I fail to sleep at all because I created scenarios in my mind, analyze them, discard some, then repeat the process. I get out of bed tired and still anxious. What is a man to do?

I can quit having Much Ado About Nothing. Ruminating has no benefits!

Matthew 6:27 (ESV) "And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?"

Medically speaking "anxiety kills". It not only fails to add years, but it takes years away. Just listen to your heart. When you're anxious your heart is the first to tell you! "You're killing me!" it says. "Quit thinking irrationally!" and if you don't, guess what? Your heart is right.

Philippians 4:6 (ESV) "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

On a recent program a silly suitor promised "I'll guard your heart!" as he was wooing the girl. My thoughts were "That's silly. How is he going to do that and what does that even mean?" Now I know. It came from The Bible and it means that  God will clear our minds and keep our hearts healthy and free from anxiety; or pain if you prefer!

Let's say that you are ruminating about a relationship for instance. Your mind is absorbed in what I call "awfulizing"; thinking negatively continually. These negative-thinkers are people we try to avoid. They're not happy because their world is irrational and in irrational worlds people do bizarre things. Anger is one of those! Negatively thinking people can even clear crowded shopping malls! When that person who is being "awful" says one positive word, the rumination is impeded. This comes from actual observation, plus God says it too:

Proverbs 12:25b "...a good word makes him glad."

What am I to do if I'm the object of Much Ado?  I communicate.  I'll either hear what I don't want to hear and my anxiety is founded, or I can hear "a good word" which foils my negativity. It's worth the effort!

On the other hand, if a person in my sphere is making Much Ado About Nothing, I can say something! That's "a good word" God of which God speaks. It's called encouragement.

Hebrews 10:25a (ESV) "Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another..."

Guess what? That's what friends do! We meet together and make life better for each other. It's a two-way thing. Today I'm discouraged and anxious; tomorrow it may be my friend.

And of course we can always turn to God!

Jeremiah 29:11( ESV) "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Negative-thinkers are those with little hope. They see bleak when bright is there. It's a personality trait! However, God wants us to have a future! This too, whatever it is, shall pass. That's my hope and can be yours because that's divine welfare in which there is no shame. God wants us to be happy people, but to be happy, you just gotta  trust Jesus!