Do Not Worry: Perpetual Canon (Song in Round)
Day 1: Perpetual Canon
“Worry, worry, worry, worry."
"Keep cool, simmer down, simmer down, keep cool simmer down…”
“What a silly song!” I thought as my music teacher went over the lines, again and again, each part in round. Years later, I better recognize the notes in this round—the constant, obtrusive nature of worry, and the ongoing struggle for a counter refrain.
Worry can be sometimes absurd—as illustrated in the old folktale, The Three Foolish People: The young farmer’s daughter goes to the cellar to fetch a jug of cider before sitting down to supper with her fiancé and her parents.
Catching sight of a mallet on one of the ceiling beams, she begins to worry that after her marriage it might fall on her husband and kill him. Overwrought by worry, she sits down and bursts into tears. When she fails to return upstairs, one parent, then the other goes to the cellar and joins in the crying.
Puzzled by the failure of the three to return upstairs, the fiancé finally goes to the cellar, finds the family in their pool of tears, and laughingly declares he would only come back to marry the young woman if he ever found at least one person more foolish!
To be fair, not all worry is groundless—we often have cause for legitimate concern. But Jesus dismantles this argument also as He challenges us, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” And He continues His reassurances about the love and care of God: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:25-32).
Jesus knows it’s tempting to look at the mallets on our ceiling, and rehearse the constant refrain, “worry, worry, worry, worry…” And He gives us His many great and precious promises as counter refrains:
“Do not worry…” (Luke 12:22)
“Do not be afraid…” (Luke 12:32).
“How much more valuable you are than birds!” (Luke 12:24).
Your Father knows that you need…” (Luke 12:30).
“How much more will He…” (Luke 12:28).
Jesus also knows that the world is full of trouble. But He has overcome the world (John 16:33). He walks with us in the midst of trouble (Psalm 138:7).
The technical term for a round is a perpetual canon or infinite canon—a song that goes on and on. Just like worry. But God gives us the music of hope: Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith (1 John 5:4).
Do not worry—perpetual canon. Keep cool. Simmer down!
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