Written by: Dr Jurie Vermeulen
Article source: Supplied
This epitaph would be a fitting eulogy for the tragic passing of one of the treasures of civilization. In recent months, due to the global Covid-19 pandemic crisis we, and indeed the whole world, stood by the grave of arguably our most treasured delusion. Globally, country after country, all attended the same funeral, mourning the sudden, violent death of our mutually shared obsession – control. Human beings crave control, because it ensures stability. We detest and will do anything to avoid uncertainty, caused by chaos and instability. The mere mention in homes, businesses and ministries of words like, uncontrollable, chaos, instability and uncertainty, cause a cold sweat to break out on most brows. We’ve been programmed to seek after control and undisturbed equilibrium through thousands of years of experience and cultural conditioning.
Stability is defined as “the state of being firmly fixed or not likely to move or change…a situation in which something such as an economy, company, or system can continue in a regular and successful way without unexpected changes.” This is collective humanity’s most fervent wish and ultimate prize. Countless centuries of blood, sweat and tears have been spent in our quest to gain control, ensuring stability and certainty. It is also the most fervent prayer of the faithful, that God would ensure that, “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent. For he will give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
We’ll do well to be reminded that control, stability and certainty are all just illusions. They might even be allusions, and with that I mean they are fleeting glimpses of and references to another world; a hidden world whose dawn we right now only see dimly, that always stays just out of reach on the distant horizon. The truth is that, while humanity’s enjoying the illusion of control and stability, the very ground beneath our feet is at this very moment, slowly sliding towards oblivion at 5 cm per year on route to earth’s inner molten core! Even more frightening is the fact that spaceship earth is hurtling through space at breakneck speed! We’re simultaneously rotating around our axis at 1700 km/hr.; orbiting the sun at 110000 km/hr.; while our entire solar system is orbiting within our Milky way galaxy at 720000 km/hr.! The uncomfortable truth is that, apart from making sure we don’t trip over our own two feet when we get up to go somewhere, we have precious little control of most things happening around us from moment to moment; making the psalmist’s prayer quoted above all the more relevant.
Control is not something gained once for all, neither is stability something stagnant and unchanging; in fact, without controlled, constant movement and adjustment, relative stability is impossible! There’s a video circulating on YouTube of someone doing a seemingly very controlled, stable handstand, but the title of the video gives away the secret of this apparent stability by declaring that; “The illusion of stability and equilibrium is made up of constant micro adjustments and impeccable attention to detail.” The gymnast is only able to create this illusion by continually executing minute micro movements in his hands, arms; in fact, his entire body. Understanding this principle, what does it teach us about stability in our own lives, careers and business? What are the constant micro adjustments we need to make in order to create and maintain control and create the experience of stability in our worlds?
Truth is, personal control and stability in an absolute sense, is a pipe dream – an illusion. While we walk this earth, the experience of control and stability will remain fixed in the realm of our own subjective experience, just like the feelings of chaos, instability and anxiety are. Given this reality, how do we practically experience treasures like, inner control, stability and certainty, of which we can only catch a faint reflection from the true source above? The good news is that we certainly can take control of critical aspects of our lives. Just like that gymnast I mentioned earlier, creating the illusion of stability by controlling his stability through constant micro adjustments, we have control of the following:
We can control our spiritual state
I once counseled a man who was extremely frustrated and dejected, because he was feeling very unspiritual, disconnected from God and as a result, did not pray or read his Bible anymore. His wife tried to encourage him, but nothing seemed to have any effect. How do you help someone in that state? Well, I just told him to change his mind about the whole thing – right there and then. If he felt guilty about something, he should deal with that; get it out of the way, but if there’s nothing else, the matter’s settled. I explained to him that, since God never left him, he has the ability to feel as close to God as he wished. The spiritual distance he was suffering from, had nothing to do with God, but with himself! He looked puzzled for a moment, but nevertheless immediately took control. He started by thanking God that He never left him, but that it was just his own mind and feelings that left God! He left a changed man and stayed that way. That’s the amazing control God gave to each of us; YOU decide what to think and what to feel about God and your relationship with him. If you don’t take control, someone else will!
Jesus is a perfect example of exercising control over Himself. There is only one person I know of that slept like a baby in an open, six-meter fishing boat, with white foamy waves violently crashing around him in the midst of a howling category four storm – the Prince of Peace! He once said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.” It always fascinates me when I listen to folks that had an NDE (near death experience), how they suddenly found themselves outside their dying bodies, looking from above, instantly captivated by the absolute perfect peace and tranquility enveloping them. That is the atmosphere of heaven. Scripture teaches us that even now we are able to find a reflection of that stability and peace which so pervades the spiritual realm, by walking and talking with Christ every day; by trusting Him in everything. Paul also encourages us to take control of our walk; he advises us to “reckon” ourselves dead to this world and all its cares, walking, trusting in God our Rock. This word, “reckon,” means to think in a certain way, ever evaluating all that’s happening around us; locating God in the midst of everything, and staying centered in Him. Taking control means that we start walking in the Spirit, constantly making those “micro adjustments”; ever adjusting our thinking, attitudes, perspectives, speech, actions and faith as we navigate each day. If we find our values to live by in God and his Word, we are building our lives on the solid Rock, Jesus said, and when the storms come, we will find unshakable stability.
Take control by loving others
You and I were created to be loved – by God and by other people! Never forget that, in fact, insist on that. Love makes us feel safe; the opposite of all that chaos and instability presents – fear, uncertainty and hurt. Failures in relationships are almost inevitably caused by a failure to take control – a failure to love well. If someone does not love you, but ensnares you in a toxic net of shaming and blaming, run as fast and as far as you can. Numerous studies, some of them longitudinal studies spanning decades, taught us that the happiest and healthiest elderly folk, are those who were surrounded by loving people. Tragically, the intrinsic weakness and fallibility of humanity, often guarantees the opposite, causing unfathomable psychological pain, unbearable loneliness and endless misery. This pain is magnified by the very fact that we were created to be loved. In Scripture, we find, what we call, “the great commission,” uttered by Jesus on the occasion of his ascension into heaven, charging us to “go into all the world and preach the gospel.”But we also find the “great commandment,” charging us to “love God with all our hearts, and our neighbors like we love ourselves.” This is God’s recipe for strong, stable and fulfilled lives. Loving others helps us to live in the present, which is another condition for stability and joy. If you live in the past or the future, failing to enjoy the present, you’ll know nothing but frustration and unsatisfied longing in your live. Simple as that. Loving people, combined with the awareness and enjoyment of all the small things which make up your every waking moment, produces a life filled with meaning.
Take control of your values and your goals
Humans are meant to live value-based and goal-driven lives. This gives us inner psychological stability and direction. We choose our values and if we fail to do so consciously, necessity will unfortunately thrust any number of them upon us. Our values shape who we are, i.e., our self-image and identity, while clear, achievable goals provide direction and impetus to our lives. Values function like the foundation of a house, simultaneously giving stability and shape to it. In the same way, values taken from Scripture, like love, faith and forgiveness, give a “Christian shape” to our lives; identifying us as such. The goals we choose focus our inner energy like a laser beam, providing motivation and movement like nothing else can, while our Christian values enable us to live spiritual, loving lives. We need to choose these wisely.
When YOU change, everything changes
Let’s return to our earlier quote; “The illusion of stability and equilibrium is made up of constant micro adjustments and impeccable attention to detail.” How do we practice this in our daily lives? Just like the gymnast’s “stable” handstand; life is like a finely tuned balancing act made up of thoughts, feelings, attitudes, words and actions – which result in either equilibrium or failure. If we’ll recall our friend I mentioned above, who, by merely adjusting his thoughts, almost instantly radically transformed his stream of consciousness, immediately shaking off his negative attitudes and feelings towards himself and God, bursting forth into freedom. When he changed, everything else changed as well. In every situation we need to make similar constant micro-adjustments in order to maintain our spiritual and psychological balance; to maintain a God-centeredness; a Spirit-inspired attitude of love, self-identity and awareness, while seizing every little opportunity which presents itself to have joy. If we all took control by building our lives upon this solid foundation, we will be able to catch a glimpse and, maybe, experience some faint, but true reflection of that ultimate stability, certainty and peace, waiting to fully embrace us in the new world.
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Date published: 17/05/2020
Feature image: unsplash.com
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