When Life’s Beyond Our Control
December 5th, 2007 Posted in GrowthThe roads today are slick with snow cover and ice. I drive with a fear of losing control. On the longer journey we call life one of the great frustrations is to feel you’re not in control. It seems to be a reoccurring feeling! We’d like things to be different in so many areas of life but much is beyond our control to change things. “Due to circumstances beyond our control…” the bad news comes over a loudspeaker. It’s as if there’s a little voice that announces to us on a regular basis, “Due to circumstances beyond your control this is not going to turn out exactly as you want.”
How are we to make something of life when it seems so much of it is out of our control? What got me to thinking about this was something I read in Calvin Miller’s book Into the Depths of God. He refers to Solzhenitsyn’s unjust imprisonment in the Soviet Union. Miller writes, “Why then did he cry at last, where all the world could hear him, ‘Prison, I bless you!’? Because in losing control of his circumstances he was given what his secure Soviet overlords could never give him – character. Only when he could no longer say he was in charge of his world could the real Solzhenitsyn come to be!”
We think we can only accomplish greater things when we’re in control. It seems, however, that we become greater people when we live out life the best we can when we’re not in control!
Dave
2 Responses to “When Life’s Beyond Our Control”
By Marcia on Dec 5, 2007
So true! I like what Paul Simon says, “We believe we’re gliding down the highway, when in fact we’re slip-sliding away.” Once we recognize and accept that, life is simpler. I think only then are we able to be grateful for the things that happen because we’re not in control.
p.s. Love the photos!
By Dave Claassen on Dec 6, 2007
Marcia,
“Slip-sliding away”….I recall the words of Paul Simon’s song, heard them a gazillion times, but never listened to the meaning of them! Thanks for writing.
Dave