Pilgrimage Ponderings
Control Issues
Perhaps you have participated in a conversation where someone makes reference to a person having "control issues," being a "control freak," or maybe even being "out of control." We live day to day under the illusion that we have much more control over our destiny than we probably actually have. We like to think that we make things happen around us. And I suppose that sometimes we do.
If we truly have so much control, then why are we so shocked and troubled when we experience a natural disaster or a catastrophic accident? I think it is because these sorts of events challenge our illusion. In the face of such an occurrence, we can no longer pretend that we are the masters of our own destiny.
On a smaller scale, the next time you are with a group of people, try standing back and observing the conversation. I think we spend a lot of time in subtle and not-so-subtle ways trying to get others to do what we want them to do. Here is another manifestation of the illusion. We like to think that we can control others in this way.
I believe that the reality is that the only thing we actually can learn how to control is how we respond to whatever comes our way. With God's grace we can learn self-control. All the rest is an illusion that can be comforting when things are going smoothly but may not be particularly helpful when times are tough.
