by Clayton King 
This really is the ultimate question as far as my earthly life is concerned. I was reminded of this today in the Houston airport as angry passengers berated poor, powerless ticket agents who had told them their flight was cancelled due to air traffic control. No matter how loudly the angry passengers protested, no matter what threats they made to never fly United Airlines again, their attempts to change the outcome were hopeless, because the ticket agents had NO AUTHORITY in the matter.
There were some men and women somewhere in a very tall tower who had a much better perspective on things, and they were calling the shots. The could see how many airplanes were in the vicinity and they knew the magic number that were allowed to fly in a certain space. Once that number was met, they started shutting things down.
How many times does a perfect God, with a much better (might I say, perfect) perspective of my life, begin shutting things down on me? Things I wanted really bad. Things I had planned and counted on. Things I had been sure He would allow me to do. He thwarts my efforts. He fails to sweep in and save the day (or give you the boyfriend, or give you an A on the exam when you deserved the F you got, or let that couple buy your house that had been on the market for 2 years).
And how many times do you protest at the top of your lungs, trying to change God’s mind with selfish tantrums disguised as selfless prayers? Innumerable times I have panicked the very second my plans fell apart, because I had no plan B. I did not even have the mental capability to imagine that what I had dreamed up for myself might not be the best thing for me, or for someone else that would be injured or neglected if I got what I wanted, or even good for the gospel and the kingdom. We want to be boss, call the shots, and get things our way. This is just plain, good old fashioned sin. We want to exert ourselves as Lord, master, boss, and king.
I am so happy that airline passengers don’t call the shots at airports. If they did, then none of us would ever have to go through a security checkpoint and the Taliban would be blowing up planes from New York to Nigeria. If the passengers ran things, the aviation industry would go out of business, pilots would be forced to fly jets filled with people notwithstanding the fact that there was a fuel leak in an engine hose before takeoff, and we would fly directly into a hurricane just to make sure some high powered executive made it home in time for his daughter's piano recital.
At the airport, Air Traffic Control calls the shots. On the plane, the pilot calls the shots. In line at security, the TSA agents call the shots. And I have survived 20 years of flying, alive, in one piece, because the right people call the shots and ignore the idiots who think they are smarter than the highly trained pros. No matter how loudly they yell, threaten, curse and swear.
So when we say that JESUS IS LORD, that means HE calls the shots. Which means you don’t. Neither do I. And this is truly the best arrangement, since not a one of us is good, smart, righteous, holy, omnipotent, sovereign, or perfect. Jesus gets to have the final say in my life. He is my authority and I yield to Him. I have no right to expect Him to yield to me.
So stop freaking out every time one small element of your life goes contrary to what you wanted God to do. Quit panicking and arguing with God. Don’t pout like a spoiled child. Remember, like the guys in the tower at the airport, God has an advantage over you and me, because from His vantage point, He sees it all. We would do well to let Him call the shots.
photo: Zela
Comments (8)
Good metaphor. :)
That said, the God of the scriptures doesn't condescend or belittle our suffering. While we aren't given the license to complain, we are to bring our pain and sorrow before him and have them validated & recognized in the light of the cross, the ultimate symbol of the paradoxical unity between helplessness and victory.
You neglect to remember that often in the old testament the patriarchs and prophets argue with God and "change" his mind.
But in general you are right.
Great post! :D
your metaphor is interesting - it does make you think about life and how to approach it
but I see a huge difference between :
1 - paying for a bad service (why would they overbook flights to the point of having to cancel them because there were too many?)
and
2 - not being able to do everything you want in life, and what attitude you take to approach life in general when things don't go your life
still made me think though :) xox
This is a good post, and a lesson that I need to learn!
GOOD TIMES! This sounds like a post that I have made (on my other xanga), or would have made. It also reminds me of my one friend who says that she tries to micro-manage God. (She is working on this and doing much better). The sad part about that is this: you may get what you want, but when it all goes to the crapper, people want to blame God. What happens is that eventually, He lets you do what you want because you didn't want to listen to Him anyway!
Yeah, I worked in retail, and there is nothing worse than rude and selfish people that want you to change things that you have no power to change. This is especially true when it comes to coupons. I didn't print the coupon, so don't be getting in my face when it doesn't apply to whatever it is you wanted to buy! READ THE FINE PRINT! As for those horrid people in line who got on the ticket agents for something that really isn't their problem... it isn't their fault that your plane got canceled. Please get over yourself; you are not that important. Would it kill people to have a little class and be understanding about things?!
I'm sorry, but that pisses me off. You're right though; how many times have we done that to God? How many times have we told him "I better have my way!! You're SUPPOSED to give me my way! NOW!" He tried to reason with us and tell us that it really wasn't good for us right now (or at all)... but when we get on Him enough, He leaves us to our own destruction. That's a place I'd prefer not to be in. How about you?
I LOOK AT IT THIS WAY, YOU PICKED THE AIRLINE AND THE TIME TO LEAVE AND WHEN THEY DELAY IT. ITS ILLEGAL AND I FIGURE WE CAN SUE THE AIRLINE FOR CHANGING THE DEPARTURE DATE, SHOULD WE WANT. IF YOUR GOING TO A MEETING AT A CERTAIN TIME AND THE CAB SAYS THEIR'S A DELAY AND YOU MISS YOUR MEETING AND LOOSE YOUR WHATEVER, SOMEONE IS RESPONSIBLE. AS IS THE AIRLINES ARE A RESPONSIBLE COMPANY AND IF THEY DELAY YOU , THEN THEY SHOULD PAY YOU FOR THE CHANGE. WHAT I'M THINKING IS IF SOMEONE SUED ANY AIRLINE AND THEY DELAYED YOU FOR ANY REASON YOU SHOULD BE RE-IMBURSE FOR YOUR LOSS OF TIME, OTHERWISE PEOPLE MIGHT GET SMART AND AS A GROUP FLY ON HORIZON AIRE, BECAUSE THERE'S NO DELAY OF ANYTIME, LIKE THE BIGGER JETS AND BEING A PROP THEIR SAFER. SAVE MONEY, NO DELAYS AND ARE SAFER TO FLY, ALSO GET MORE ATTENTION. HAVE A NICE DAY. MIKE