C Is For Control!

My Love made it home safely -- but not until Saturday afternoon. She decided to take the opportunity, while traveling through eastern Iowa, to visit an elderly friend in Cedar Falls, and then a cousin in northern Iowa. Although her arrival was delayed, it was sweet nonetheless.

To celebrate our wedding anniversary on Sunday, we had some tentative plans to relax together, and then perhaps go out for an evening meal at a restaurant. However, around 11 am, we received a phone call from My Love's Mother saying that Dad needed a little extra attention and care since he was struggling with some confusion. So we went immediately and spent the day and evening with them, taking them for an outing, watching a movie and playing some games. It was a time of loving togetherness which turned out to be a blessing as we begin our 14th year of wedded bliss. Perhaps this is a foretaste of things to come.

Throughout the weekend, I found myself confronted again with my old nemesis: CONTROL. Time and time again in my life, through differing circumstances, God has brought me face to face with the primary issue in my spiritual journey -- Who is in charge here? While I frequently fool myself into believing that I hold the reins, never am I allowed to live with that misconception for any great length of time. God's loving hand on my shoulder gently taps, or sometimes lovingly slugs me to remind me of the truth: God is God, I am not! While at the time I do not always enjoy the call back to reality, in the end I am grateful that God does not let me wander too far from God's presence.

What is the primary spiritual issue that you have to deal with over and over again in your life? Do you see how God uses that to draw you closer into the Divine Presence? Do you accept it?