Future tripping is a phrase familiar to those who work 12 step programs. It has to do with fear of the future. A lot of people, not just those with addictions, are experiencing this right now. Come to think of it, is there anyone that doesn’t have some kind of “addiction”? If it isn’t alcohol or drugs, maybe it’s texting on an iPhone or exploring all the apps on an iPad. Maybe it’s surfing the net or playing a computer game that draws people into a time-sucking world of make-believe. How many people feel a little down and head off to the Mall for that pick-me-up purchase, or another $5 specialty drink. If that doesn’t work, there’s always one of those casinos popping up all over the country.
We deal with fear in all kinds of ways.
Abraham ran to Egypt and then, when faced with Pharaoh’s attraction to Sarah, handed her over and made her lie to save his own skin.
Jacob ran away from Esau, served time with Laban and returned with a very large, very dysfunctional family.
The ten spies came back from the Promised Land and lied because they were afraid to go back and face the giants.
Moses ran away from the Egyptians and hid out in the desert with the Midianites for forty years.
The night Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples scattered and ran. One who followed, Peter, eventually denied Jesus three times to save himself.
We’re all a mess. We all fail. In the words of a 12-stepper, we all F.E.A.R. And we face a choice. Forget everything and run. Or face everything and recover.
Man plans (and runs). God still has His way with us.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we didn’t waste so much of our lives future tripping?