The Illusion of Control: Embracing Life’s Unpredictability

We live in a world dominated by power. The leaders of industry control vast amounts of money. A single mistake can cause chaos in the economy. Politics, which used to be about serving the people, has become all about power.

As humans, we often believe that we can control everything. We want to manipulate the sun, slow down time, and be the masters of our destiny. We strive to be the captains of our souls, as expressed in William Ernest Henley’s poem “Invictus“.

Yet, I have come to learn that I do not control life. It controls us. This is what Canute, an 11th-century Danish king, taught his courtiers. Many in his court would flatter him, proclaiming him to be the greatest and most powerful man alive.

But Canute was wise enough not to believe the flattery. One day, he decided to put an end to it. He took his entourage to the seashore and asked his courtiers if he had all the power they claimed he did. They all agreed.

So, Canute asked them to bring him his chair and place it near the water. He instructed them to move it closer until the feet of the chair were in the water. Sitting down, he asked if they could see the tide coming in and if it would stop if he commanded it to.

His courtiers assured him that he had the power to stop the tide. Canute gave the order, but the water continued to lap at his feet. He tried again, commanding the ocean to turn back, but the water only came higher, soaking his robe.

Turning to his subjects, Canute admitted that he did not have as much power as they believed. He reminded them that there is only one all-powerful King, the one who rules the sea and holds the oceans in his hands. He suggested that they reserve their praises for him.

His courtiers bowed their heads in shame, and Canute removed his crown, never to wear it again.

Life does not always go according to our plans. I have experienced this firsthand. Family and friends have died without warning. It laid bare the fragility and unexpected turns life can take

No matter how much we try to control life, we are not gods. In the Bible, Moses questioned God about his name and who sent him. God responded with “I am who I am”. Yet, we want to claim that title for ourselves. We want to control life, impose our will, and dictate our own time.

But the truth is, we are not in control. The changing seasons remind us of this. We expect autumn to arrive when Labor Day comes, but sometimes the heat lingers into October. God holds the world in his hand, not us.

We try to reshape life according to our desires, yet we struggle to find its purpose. As Solomon said, everything is vanity. It’s like a fleeting wind that comes and goes, leaving nothing behind.

The key to understanding is realizing what we have control over. Our only agency is how we respond to life. We can make plans but must remain flexible because life will interrupt our plans.

As a wise man once said, “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall never be bent out of shape.” We can make our plans, but we must be willing to bend to God’s will. Only then will we find peace and contentment.

We should echo Job’s prayer, acknowledging that the Lord gives and takes away. Let us live our lives, but always remember that it is under God’s guidance and control.