Out of Control

When we hear someone is "out of control" it usually means they have lost it, have went nuts or need physical restraint. When we review our lives many of us if not all would never put ourselves in this category. We are reserved, mature and in control, but let me challenge the fact that any of us are in control! We may not be "out of control" as defined above but we are "out of control" with what can happen in our lives.

Two weeks ago I was driving home early from work in hopes of sneaking in for a quick hair cut. I am not a "wait for a hair cut kind a guy." As I was stopped waiting for traffic a car behind me rear ended my truck and sent me to the side of the road. I wasn't expecting this! Along with this mini crash came a sore neck and back and three days before I was to run the Twin Cities Marathon. When I went to the starting line of the marathon it was the hottest start ever with the highest humidity. I fried and died that day at the marathon. As Cherie and I headed south after the race we pulled into McDonald's to eat and when we came out our van wouldn't start. Fortunately, there was an auto parts store behind McDonald's and we got a replacement battery. Later that night I watched the worst ten minutes of the Bears-Packers game as the Bears won. All these scenarios reminded me that I am not in control!

I received a hard email today from a friend. One week ago my wife and I were rejoicing with them in the anticipation of another child. It was great to be around them as they talked of their excitement and I could see the anticipation of another child reflected in their eyes. Today, their expectant baby died in the womb and they are now waiting for the miscarriage to take place. It is times like these that bring me to the reality that I/We are "out of control."

God is the creator and owner of the universe and all that is in it. David states in Psalm 24:1, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." Isaiah 48:17 says, "This is what the Lord says-your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go." The more I ponder life the more I realize we are all "out of control," and God is the only one "in control." Hopefully there will come a day when I will not fight this but fully realize it, rest in it and rejoice in it for our God is a Great God and His love is sufficient to control our lives. Lamentations 3:22-24 says, "Because of the Lord's great love for us we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.'" The more I think about it, I am grateful for being "out of control" for my God is "in control."

The Speed of Life

It's amazing how life can be cruising along at "cruise control" pace and with little warning feel like it's "pedal to the metal." Over the last year and a half my wife and I have been going through the adoption process. Prior to this we had a sense from God that He desired us to utilize His blessings in our life for another life. We have three children already but still have space in our home, plenty of food, smiles, laughter and love. Recently we just finished our adoption process and the waiting and searching for another child had begun. In our minds we were buckled in for a long back roads ride as we were warned it could be a year or so.

Well, just as we were out of the city and pulling onto the country road to put our search into cruise we received a call. Within a week of the initial call we were given the go ahead to begin the adoption process of a precious four year old girl. We received the call on a Monday, interviewed on a Wednesday, received the okay on a Thursday and will now meet our new daughter on the following Monday. The cruise control is off and it is "pedal to the metal" in preparing our home and life for a four year old girl. It's been eight years since we last experienced this age in our home (on a live in basis). This sometimes is the speed of life and part of the great adventure God calls us to! If you see me pulled over, you'll know why!