Unruffled Is Their Spirit

In the last few weeks I’ve had opportunities to give chapel services at the Academy of the New Church and Bryn Athyn College of the New Church. At both schools I spoke on worry about the future (aka “care for the morrow”), and I read one of my favorite passages from Arcana Coelestia. Several people asked me afterward for the reference, so here’s that passage, in case anyone needs to read this today:

“Care for the morrow” does not mean the care of procuring for oneself food and clothing, and even resources for the time to come; for it is not contrary to order for anyone to provide for himself and his own.

But those have care for the morrow who are not content with their lot; who do not trust in the Divine, but in themselves; and who have regard for only worldly and earthly things, and not for heavenly things. With such there universally reigns worry about things to come, and a desire to possess all things and to dominate over all, which is kindled and grows according to the additions thus made, and finally does so beyond all measure.

They grieve if they do not obtain the objects of their desire, and feel anguish at the loss of them; and they have no consolation, because of the anger they feel against the Divine, which they reject together with everything of faith, and curse themselves. Such are they who have care for the morrow.

Very different is the case with those who trust in the Divine. These, although they have care for the morrow, still they do not have it, because they do not think of the morrow with worry, still less with anxiety.

Unruffled is their spirit whether they obtain the objects of their desire, or not; and they do not grieve over the loss of them, being content with their lot. If they become rich, they do not set their hearts on riches; if they are raised to honors, they do not regard themselves as more worthy than others; if they become poor, they are not made sad; if their circumstances are lowly, they are not dejected.

They know that for those who trust in the Divine all things advance toward a happy state to eternity, and that whatever befalls them in time still leads toward this. (Arcana Coelestia §8478)