Lets face it, control freaks are everywhere today. When people can't control the spiritual loss in society, the result will be them trying to control each other. Like yesterday when I was crossing the street and a man drove his car real, real slow in front of me, rolling down his window to look me right in the eye, with a cocky smile on his face and his finger up his nose.
He was looking for relief.
Relief from his own pain, relief perhaps from growing up in a dysfunctional family and society that focuses on more power, more prestige, more attention, more coffee, more excitement, more money, cut a corner here and there and maybe i wont get caught...faster, harder, winning, one-upping...me, me, me...and no program of recovery to find any peace.
Let's face it...someone will always be able to control us...a boss, landlord, the IRS and the police, and sometimes we will be treated unfairly. And we are powerless over other people, places and things. But it's when we are controlled all the time by an unhealthy parent that we stop being autonomous (free). We do have the power over changing that. If it means we have to let go of the purse strings and find a roommate or even go to a shelter, we can do that.
Or maybe we have a wife or boyfriend who is unreasonably controlling and we have tried everything, absolutely everything, and they continue to be cruel, knowing they are harming us and sucking us dry of self-esteem. We tell them we are hurt, they can see the damage, and they wont do their own work. We have the power to change that.
What I'm saying is healthy, loving boundaries and tolerating being controlled in a sick society aren't very easy when there aren't any boundaries with the Real People.
Today I only want God to be my Higher Power - no human beings. I dont want to be controlled in my own home or family in an unhealthy way that's keeping me bound and unfree.
He and I together can handle my share of whats mine in the world - my responsibilities, my self-care, my daily life and my prayer time... and only my share.
God and I can handle the world as it is A lot easier, when I'm only carrying my share of the burden - and I am free enough to see the beauty.
i can only do my own work.
Thats the wisdom to know the difference.
-- Edited by odat on Thursday 23rd of May 2013 08:32:27 AM
I walk to work most times as I have Epilepsy. I have almost been run over a couple of times by people who are are in a hurry. Angry at me because I am in their way. I feel sad for them. I could choose to be angry at these people but I am still alive because God has allowed it.
I feel that I am free because I do not allow folks like this to control my response. They can be angry but I choose not to be.
Lets face it, control freaks are everywhere today. When people can't control the spiritual loss in society, the result will be them trying to control each other. Like yesterday when I was crossing the street and a man drove his car real, real slow in front of me, rolling down his window to look me right in the eye, with a cocky smile on his face and his finger up his nose.
He was looking for relief.
Relief from his own pain, relief perhaps from growing up in a dysfunctional family and society that focuses on more power, more prestige, more attention, more coffee, more excitement, more money, cut a corner here and there and maybe i wont get caught...faster, harder, winning, one-upping...me, me, me...and no program of recovery to find any peace.
Great post Odat,
One thing for sure, the world isn't fair, only equitable. We all at some point will come in contact with the types you describe above. I stopped trying to figure them out, could be some of the above issues but in the end everyone has their story.
They can still be irritating, but the fact is I ticked of plenty of people and put others in jeopardy with my old self will run riot behavoir so I can't quite sit on a pedestal.
The commute home in Metro ATL was bad today about 75 minutes in 6 lanes of traffic, close to 90 degrees it was hot even in the car with A/C, I see a young guy on a motorcycle and I'm careful of him. He has all the leather helmet and protection, I don't think he was on a joy ride, just a guy trying to get home from work or school.
I thank God I have some years working the 3d step... avoiding making decisions based on self which have but me in a position to be controled or hurt, as well as practice in intergrating the nuances of the 3 sections of the Serenity prayer into my life.....thats where the freedom is for me.
__________________
Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
