Hello Fellow Wholetonians,
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This week’s musing is centered on the topic of control. Control is merely an illusion, a threadbare assumption with zero accuracy, yet everyone is clambering for it. One of the perks of age is that your character eventually matches your ability! I get so tickled when an overly ambitious young person tells me he or she is a control freak. My answer is, “No, you are just a freak; you are NEVER in control of anything.” You see, dear one, if we were actually in control, we would never make a mistake, have a car accident, gain weight, get a pimple, have a bad hair day, have to pay taxes, say something stupid, sleep through the alarm … I think you get it! The Bible says:
“I have told you this so that through me you may have peace. In the world you'll have trouble, but be courageous—I've overcome the world!” - John 16:33
There is only ONE person that is 100% in control—God! The sooner we realize that truth, the sooner we will settle into the proper rhythm of life.
One of the greatest sermons ever preached in America was “Ten Shekels And a Shirt,” by Paris Reidhead. One of his stories in this magnificent sermon is about a young preacher who is far too self-seeking and perilously ambitious. Here is a snippet:
“And he [the young preacher] accomplished a great deal, admittedly without God. Now he wanted something of power to accomplish his ends even further.
I said, "No ... no, you're sitting behind the wheel and you're saying to God give me power so I can go, It won't work, You've got to slide over."
But I knew that rascal, because I knew me. I said, "No, it will never do, you've got to get in the back seat." And I could see him leaning over and grabbing the wheel.
"No," I said, "it will never do in the back seat."
I said, "Before God will do anything for you, you know what you've go to do?"
So he said, "What?"
I said, "You've got to get out of the car, take the keys around, open up the trunk lid, hand the keys to the Lord Jesus, get inside the trunk, slam the lid down, whisper through the keyhole, 'Lord look, fill'r up with anything you want and you drive, it's up to you from now on.”
So here’s an important question, “Who is driving your car?” Your answer may determine your destiny! You see, it makes sense to hand the keys to the one who knows the destination and the most expeditious route to get there, doesn't it? When we get to the place where we swallow our foolish pride and admit that we don’t know what to do or how to get there, our humility empowers God to take over and take us to places we never imagined. That, dear friend, is the secret of Wholetones. When I surrendered to God’s will by simply getting out of the driver’s seat, I was amazed by each and every unexpected twist and turn of the journey. Life was created to be an exhilarating adventure; we are the ones who make it difficult by refusing to relinquish control of the wheel! I often say,
“I live a Huck Finn life.”
Huck just laid back and enjoyed each unknown bend in the great Mississippi because he trusted the tiller man, Jim. We will enjoy the “life fantastic” when we learn to trust God with the wheel. He ALWAYS knows where He is going—He’s been there since the beginning!
Enjoy the ride,
Michael S. Tyrrell
