identifying idols…part 2

{To continue from yesterday…}

So what are the idols I’ve been worshiping lately? My family.

For years, I’ve had to be the voice for our kids due to them all being on the autism spectrum. At school, I’ve had to make sure all the tools they needed to succeed would be available to them. At church, I ensured people knew their ‘quirks’ and accepted them as they were. Outside our home, I surrounded them by explanations and information so others would come to understand and love them as we do.

In other words, I’ve spent so much time doing my job in speaking for them, it’s caused me to, lately, cross the line a few too many times when God has wanted to grow them. Because in my efforts to shield them, I’ve begun to imagine that I can actually control what happens to them.

Which is such an illusion.

Case-in-point: The movie Nemo. Marlin, the clown-fish, has a terrible tragedy happen to him in the beginning, leaving him with only one son, Nemo. And because Marlin knows that Nemo is all he has left, he makes a promise in the opening scene that he will never let anything happen to him. Which, of course, {spoiler alert} doesn’t turn out so well.

So as the movie continues, Marlin’s journey {and ‘awakening’} begins as he tries to recover Nemo. And in doing so, he discovers two things about his tight ‘control’.

1. It kept Nemo from discovering his own potential and what he was able to do. As Dory says while they’re sitting in the belly of the whale {no relation to Jonah, I’m sure}, ‘That’s a funny thing to promise. Because if you don’t ever let anything happen to him, then nothing will ever happen to him.” {Insert thoughtful pause} She then says, ‘Not much fun for lil’ Harpo.’
2. It wasn’t really love that kept Nemo ‘safe’…it was fear. And fear only brings torment. Which is how Marlin spends the majority of the movie, until the end, when he releases Nemo to do what he knows he can do. Then he finds peace.

{Enter current reality.} I don’t want my family {husband or kids} to ever experience pain or rough times. {That’s a reasonable request, right?} However, the problem with that is, sometimes those are the very things God uses to grow us. To mature us. To mold us. So…if I get my way and am actually successful in keeping my family away from ever feeling hurt or discomfort, I run the risk of hindering God’s plan for them.

Which might will include…

Rough places.
Shaky situations.
Unknown paths.
Uncertain endings.

Not things I would ever order for them, but, then again, I’m not their Creator. I’m just the facilitator. “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” {Proverbs 22:6, NLT}

Note the word…direct. Not control.

Which brings me to my next idol – rediscovered as I’ve typed these two blog posts: control. {bleh.}

Ironically, though, there is no such thing as me being in control. There is only the illusion of it.

Which is really what idolatry is. It’s an illusion created by us in order to avoid giving God control of what He’s already in control of. {So silly.} And the amazing thing is?…He allows us the opportunity to choose whom we will worship and serve. All the while knowing His will is still going to be accomplished. {Which is humbling.} And also real love. The kind that gives you plenty of space to make your own decision.

So, my truth is – I’ll either release my children to God as they head off to a new year at school {middle school included, gulp!}, or I’ll attempt to run myself ragged trying to make sure their path never hits a bump. I’ll either let God help my husband as he works on his own processes or I’ll try to play ‘God’, bumbling around trying to fix everything myself. {Which usually ends up being more of a mess afterwards.}

Bottom line, I’ll either worship God…or my own hand-designed idols. And as much as I don’t want to give them up, I have to in order for God to finish the incredible work He’s doing in their lives. And in mine.

So, how about you? When confronted with what you are constantly thinking about and obsessing over, what idols do you find yourself bowing before?

Trust me, you’ll discover the answers if you truthfully look at your ‘track’ record.

God will either be Number 1 or someone/something else will be. Always.

Whether you choose to admit it or not.

{Image courtesy of Flickr, Video from YouTube}