Tag: control

Some Thoughts on Control

There is a lot of talk in the world today about control. Opinions vary on if, and to what degree, we as human beings exercise control. Some say, “Yes, I am always in control!” While others say, “No, control is an illusion!” My analytical brain wants to put me in the “Yes!” camp, but from experience and what I read in God’s Word I know that the latter is where I live.

Why do we feel the need for control? The world says it’s primal, a survival instinct, hard-wired into us when we crawled out of the ooze a bazillion years ago. As a Christian I reject the idea that my ancestors were ever protozoa or ever “oozed” anywhere. Honestly, which is more fantastical: a) humans were once single-celled organisms and “evolved” or b) God brought everything into existence?

I believe the answer lies, perfectly enough, in the idea of control.

If the universe simply sprang into being, one second there was nothing and the next, volia, Earth we are not beholden to anyone or anything for our existence … it was an accident, happenstance without purpose or design. After all, a human can’t be indebted to protozoa or the big bang! If, however, God created the Earth in seven glorious days, breathed life into Adam and from his rib created Eve, well then there is someone we owe! Someone who has control over our existence.

Submission, by it’s very definition, is an absence of control. When we submit to God’s plan for our lives, when we follow His commandments, when we acknowledge our fallen sinful nature and finally, blessedly when we are washed white by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, we are most surely “out of control”! The point being … we’ve given control over to God.

However, for all this “lack of control” I would suggest that in perfect submission there is control … God’s control and reign over our lives gives a peace and joy that no white-knuckled grasp on the handlebars of life could ever give! He is a loving and wonderful Father who promises to safeguard us when we submit to His plan for our lives.

‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’ Jeremiah 29:11 (NAS)

When asked, “what is the reason for the light that lives within you” what is your answer? Mine is simple, “I was born a sinner, separated from God. Were it not for His grace, mercy, and love I would be damned to an eternity of loneliness and darkness in Hell. He loved me so much that He sent His son, Jesus, to pay the price for each and every sin. That kind of love is epic, without equal and is the reason for the light that lives in me!”

To some being in control is safety … the only way they can live. I challenge each of you to take close look at how “control” plays out in your life. For me, I’m ever the broken girl, making mistakes but following (and ceding) control to the Lord one day at a time.

What matters most…

I originally started writing this 4 years ago, in 2010. In the intervening years a lot has happened, the Boston Marathon bombing, the Sandyhook shooting, earthquakes, typhoons, hurricanes, tornadoes … there never seems to be a shortage of tragedy in the world. I liked my start so I am going to post it as it links to one of the best rants about something near and dear to my heart, STUPID DRIVERS. In that respect, I have not changed one iota. I’m going to create a calendar of blog ideas and see if I can get off my duff and actually blog about life and art. It’s a test … let’s see how I do.

January 26th, 2010 – Ask 100 people “What matters most…” and you will likely get 100 different answers. There will be themes: family, love, money, success, God, but most likely all slightly different. I’ve been all over the place with this my first blog of the new decade. For some reason I’d put all this “importance” over this blog and unwittingly given myself writer’s block and I began to worry. Why, I’m not sure since I’m convinced that no one besides my best friend and her computer-loving cat, Emma Bean, actually reads this blog. But I did begin to sweat. To keep me honest, I’m sharing my 1 New Year’s resolution: to write at least 1 blog entry each month in 2010. -EPIC FAIL

A few days ago I thought of writing about Haiti and why it seems we only reveal the “better angels of our nature” in the face of unspeakable tragedy. Then (thanks to my friend, The Sessionista, who so eloquently wrote about it) I thought to write about stupid drivers in metro Seattle, a topic that can escalate my BP like no other (read The Sessionista’s blog here). Last night I’d nearly decided to write about Teflon and ethics. I know what you’re thinking … Teflon is a non-stick surface. It is, but it can also be a descriptor for someone to whom nothing sticks. I mean nothing. Not bad deeds, not ethics, not morals, not emotions, not conscience, nothing. Then I thought, “Who am I to judge someone?” What makes me think I know best? and then it hit me, “I’m a blogger.” I’m supposed to take stands, spout opinions, and make judgments, right?

Get ready for a roller coaster ride of my opinions.