Are You In Control Or Is God

There is an old saying:

“The Master allows things to happen. He shapes events as they come. He steps out of the way and lets the Way speak for itself.”

Do you think you are in control of life’s situations? Do you try to control your subordinates? Spouse? Kids? Organization? Do you set goals and knock yourself out trying to achieve them even though events have changed the environment?

You may think you are in control…but you aren’t. You couldn’t control 9/11. But the event changed the way you live. You can’t control gasoline prices. But you can choose how to live with them. You can’t control your kids, but you can influence them and make proper values part of their lives. You can’t control others in your organization by “micro-managing.” But you can unleash the creativity and passions of them and see how far they (and the organization) can go.

Control is an illusion. But if you follow your values, you will know how to make the best of the flow and become the person and witness that God intended.

By the way, I said “values” because I worry that the phrase “putting God in control” has become so trite that it is almost meaningless in the way we actually live. I’m thinking, what does God want me to be and to do? What sort of person should I be. If I am in touch with God daily and if I am living the with-God life, then I will know how to live through the inevitable changes life throws at me and be the appropriate witness of God.

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