Greetings Dear Reader,
If we ponder “control” for a moment, we realize that it is a
term about which we need a clear definition.
Let us proceed with a simple one.
Control “the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the
course of events” (Webster’s Online Dictionary). There are places where a measure of control
is necessary. There are instances where it
is vital.
One needs to have one’s children “under control”. It is important to control the work of others
so that tasks are accomplished, hence the idea of a project manager. The difficulty that we ignore is that control
is elusive and fragile. We do not see it
that way but it is true.
Control is always subject to the will of the
controlled. It is a matter of consent to
be guided by someone in leadership or it is the exercise of authority under a
law or social structure. The thing we
ignore is that control ceases to exist when the controlled choose to reject
it. Governance is always subject to the
consent of the governed.
The stone of control is heavy and unwieldy. The moment we believe that we have control we
are on the path to losing it. With the
power of control comes the responsibility to never exercise it in the wrong
way. When thrown, the stone of control
damages the controlled and the one using it.
It will also be wrested from our hands when those we damage with it have
had enough.
For those of us who must at times carry the stone of
control, we must do so with humility and grace.
We must love those over whom we have any measure of governance and be
responsible to never throw that stone. We
must always be ready to lay it down when the situation calls for it. We must let other ways of leading, through
love and example turn the stone into a pebble we need not throw, ever.
Control is an illusion that we somehow make things
happen. If we look at it honestly, we really
have no control over anything. The
measure of directive ability we possess is subject to the free will of
others. Ultimately, the kindness and
love we wield give us much more influence than we can ever grasp through our
own power.
In laying down the stone of control, we can motivate others
through love and grace. Instead of
trying to control things Dear Reader, perhaps we should give others the freedom
to follow through our goodness to them.
There will be moments when we must exercise control. When this happens, we must do so with full
knowledge that this is a stone we pick up with respect and lay down as quickly
as possible. It is a stone we never
hurl. Perhaps it is an axiom that all we
truly control is our own thoughts, attitudes, and responses.
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every
writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a
homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure
store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Contacts for Aramis
Thorn:
Bookings: aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com
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