day 458: Control Freaks

I have a dear friend who is a senior executive who has become a control freak. Control freaks are people who can't let go and have to have everything within their life totally under their control at all times. Spontaneity disappears and what takes over is some kind of micro minutia management approach. The sad part about this is if we are doing it at work, we are doing it at home. Real trouble can brew if this happening. Now, there are those who have worked for me who would tell you that this is the kettle calling the pot black. Yes, it is true that I have the tendency to get into the details and manage the small when the bigger picture is hanging over me. That being said, I also recognize when I am doing it and then try and course correct. Control freaks don't care. It is what they do. They don't respond when their staffs tell them that they don't want to be checked up on constantly or be called on the weekends to provide an update or have to meet incessantly so that the boss has every piece of information and data. It's hard to let go, but when we do we are looked at in a much more favorable light from those who work with us. Nowhere is this lesson more clear than what we are taught in Galatians Chapter 5. Paul tells the Galatians to quit hiding behind the rules and the controls and instead find a new way of operating. Paul says for us them/us to allow God's Spirit to flow through us without over controlling the situation. He says let the fruits of the Spirit grow and be what takes over. Today, are you over controlling something or someone at work? If you are, then today is a great day to change directions. Today, think about allowing yourself to be guided by God's Spirit and call upon the fruits of the Spirit to be what shines through from you. It's hard to change but the peace and the confidence that can come from allowing Him to help you work, can be positively overwhelming and as far from being a control freak as you might imagine.

Reference: Galatians Chapter 5 (New Living Testament)