We all know what a triangle is, but have you ever thought of one as a tool for living wisely? I recently learned how this can be done. I’m here to share it with you. This is dedicated to control freaks, like myself, although I would like to think I have evolved into a more thoughtful control freak over the years.
Picture a isosceles triangle with the tip at the top and the other two points at equal distance at the bottom. Now think of a challenge you are currently facing. It might involve a co-worker, a spouse, a friend, etc. You fill in the blank. Now put God at the pinnacle. Put yourself at one of the two lower points and the other party opposite you. This is life. You can only control you. You cannot control the other party and you certainly cannot control God.
Does this help you see that ultimately He is the one in charge? All you can do is work on yourself and the other person on themselves (or not). God is in complete control of the situation and will use it for the ultimate good of those involved. It may not turn out the way you expected, or even wanted, but down the road you will more than likely see how it worked out for the best. Admittedly this is never easy to comprehend in the midst of a crisis. But what better ally could we have than the creator of the universe? The one who made everything, who knows everything about us, and wants nothing but good for our lives? Look up. Look up because the pinnacle is where He is to be found. Look to Him to help you through whatever is happening. He is always the one in control, not you.
In my own life I struggle with the little control I have. When my loved ones are hurting or suffering sometimes from self inflicted pain (metaphorically speaking), I have a terrible time trying not to fix it. To spread my wisdom over them, my honestly earned wisdom coming from years of making mistakes. I want to take the pain away. I reach for my grab back of solutions and start hurling them at the problem. I want to make their lives happier. I want to have the power to do all of that, so that they feel better and then so do I. It isn’t possible. Learn that now. It will only help you in the future.
When your children are little you have so much more control. You can generally fix their bumps and bruises or mend their little hearts just by holding them close and assuring them everything will be alright. My own mother was masterful at this. My sister and I were truly blessed having her in our lives. Our mother was the most nurturing and loving woman we ever knew. When you grow up, you can still get love and hugs from your parents, your close friends or relatives, but they cannot fix your problems. Even though they sincerely want to with every fiber of their being. Some problems are too big for humans to fix. And that is when we must go back to the triangle.
Let go of your worries, your dread of what might happen, what could happen. It’s not as if by sheer magic you could change the circumstances just because you love enough or you want to so badly. God is at the top and you and your problems are at the bottom. Trust His power to change your life for the better. He is the loving father and you His precious child. Rest in that knowing and see the simple triangle in a whole new light. God bless.