Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Control (01/30/06)
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TITLE: Help, I have chargiamania | Previous Challenge Entry
By Folakemi Emem-Akpan
02/01/06 -
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I love to be in absolute charge of my life.
Might sound like a pretty good thing, but my family is going crazy watching me try to run everybody’s life. I plan my husband’s day meticulously, haranguing him on what tie best matches his polka dotted shirt. Last Monday, I wept for hours after he left the house in anger when I suggested the yellow shirt went better with the red trousers on the brown shoes.
I’m in my mid twenties but I have already begun to plan for my great-grandchildren (Failing to plan is planning to fail, they say). The first one would be an astronaut, fulfilling my dreams of doing something out of this world. The second one would be a doctor, helping to cure humanity of its self-induced ailments. I wouldn’t mind one of them being a writer (In case I fail to have my name on the covers of books as an author, at least my posterity would).
I’m positive my younger brother would do better as a chemical engineer but he doesn’t even want to hear about it. He prefers to study computer engineering at the university. Oh, the folly of youth!
Well, as for God…He likes to be in charge too, so we happen to quarrel a lot. Like the time he wanted me to leave my job and be a stay-at-home mom. Who has ever heard of that kind of crap? A twenty-four year-old stay-at-home mom when my whole life was stretched in front of me? (Well, God won that case because my husband supported Him).
Or the time He started pressuring me to eat more healthily. But who eats healthily these days when hysteria-inducing chocolate and pies dripping with mayonnaise announce their presence at every corner?
Yesterday, we had a serious bout. I wanted to wear my tight pink skirt for that interview I’ve been praying and fasting for now that my baby is two and old enough to be left at the daycare. Perhaps it would clinch me the job (They requested for a smart, career woman in the ad), but God had a different idea.
“Why are you wearing that horrid thing?” My husband questioned as I made a mad dash for the car. I was already running late.
“What thing?” I snapped, even though I knew well enough what he was referring to. “It makes me look smart.”
“Not smart, but cheap. Would you give yourself a job if you came in for an interview like this?”
“I don’t want to quarrel this morning.” I straightened the incriminating skirt and settled into the car.
“Do you think God would be proud of this outfit?”
“Al?”
“We’re supposed to allow Him run our lives as Christians, remember?”
“Why are you all bent on controlling people’s lives?” I was beginning to get mad. “You, God, the church?”
“Because when we allow God absolute control over our lives, we are better able to function as humans.”
“Are you saying I don’t allow him enough control?”
“That’s right.”
I knew he was right but I wasn’t in the mood for a sermon. “We’ll talk about it when I get back from the interview.”
“You aren’t going to change?”
“No. I’ll be late.”
“Why the hurry? You’ll be there in plenty of time.”
“Al?”
“Sorry.” He said as he shifted the car into gear.
“Stand ye still...” *
“Did you say something?” I turned to ask Albert.
“Nope.” He concentrated on maneuvering the car into the busy traffic.
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft…” +
“Al, what did you say?”
“Me? Nothing?”
I was beginning to feel funny. “Stop the car!”
“What?”
“I want to go back home?”
“You aren’t going for the interview again?”
“I’m not.”
Of course God won that battle. He always seems to win without any apparent effort on His part. Meanwhile, I struggle daily, trying to make sense of His leadings. Why do they have to be so senseless most of the time? Even my pastor agrees but he also says we have to follow God’s leading for maximum results. I hope he’s right. I really hope he is.
* II Chronicles 20:17
+ I Samuel 15:23 KJV
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