“I think everything is in there,” I said as I handed the large envelope over to the representative at the front desk. I dropped my taxes off at the accountant this week. For weeks I’ve been carefully gathering all that I need to get this done. I’m also working with her on tax planning for this new year, making whatever adjustments are needed. I’m doing the same with my financial advisor, something I’ve done for many years, and which has afforded us the benefit of financial security. These steps are intentional, and they help us to minimize surprises. Can the same be said of the rest of my life? Can I live so intentionally as to virtually eliminate the risk of surprises in other aspects of my life? Can I plan away unforeseen catastrophes? Life, by its very nature, is full of uncertainties, surprises; it’s the price for being alive. If we could only see into the future, we could avoid all the bad stuff, the mistakes, the accidents and tragedies, all that would harm us on this life’s journey. But we also know that only God can see beyond the next turn in our lives. The future, no matter how well planned, is not ours to see, frustrating as that might be. Because the world and everyone and everything in it are subject to limitations and expectations, surprises and risk are part of what it means to be human. Let’s face it, we can do the best financial planning possible and study the markets all day, but we still can't entirely eliminate all the risk that is outside of our control. And so it is with life. I guess that’s what Jesus meant when he said, “If even the smallest things are beyond your control, why are you anxious about the rest?” Luke 12:26 Maybe Jesus is trying to help us see that if we really have a need to ‘plan’ for our future, the safest … in fact, the only place to start is by surrendering it to him. Can any of you by worrying add a moment to your life-span? Luke 12:25