Gaining Control Of Your Life

P.O Box 1540, Albany Western Australia 6331
Phone: (08) 98 418 418
E-mail: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

Gaining Control Of Your Life
"I JUST can't go on fighting and suffering anymore." Paul Gaines used these words to explain to his wife and family why he decided to take his own life. A motorcycle accident had left Paul unable to work in the grocery warehouse where he had worked as a storeman for 18-years. He slowly developed medical problems: kidney disease, back pain, dizziness, glaucoma, cataracts. He went to bed in pain and woke up in pain. Other employers would not consider him; he was a medical risk. After his application for a disability pension was rejected for the fourth time, he gave up. He apologized to his wife, saying "I am sorry for getting us in the mess we are in. I can't get help when we need it the most. I can't work to help you out of this mess. Try to do the best you can. Heaven knows I love you." Paul Gaines life seemed to be out of control. By the same token, many other people feel they are victims of unfair spouses, of unfeeling employers, or of political and social forces beyond their control. Friend, if your life seems out of control, don't be a passive spectator! Try devoting yourself to a larger cause. Gail Sheehy stirs the imagination with her two books, "Passages" and "Pathfinders." "Passages" describes the predictable crises many people face in life. "Pathfinders" asks, "Why are some people more capable of responding positively than others?" As Gail researched for her books, she questioned many people to determine if they devoted themselves to a cause or purpose beyond themselves. Most people answered "No." They explained: "My own cause is most important," or "My cause is expanding myself," or "I don't feel outside myself." Friend, Gail's research shows a striking correlation between people who find a "greater cause than themselves" and the people who express a higher degree of satisfaction with life. She reports, "The greater the well-being the person reflected, the more likely he or she was to have an outside purpose." She concludes, "This distinction is so considerable that it makes the current popular philosophy of looking out for Number One sound like a national suicide pact." As you read the New Testament, it is obvious that Jesus worked among people who lived in grinding poverty. Their country was occupied by Roman Legionnaires and life seemed out of control. One of his sayings to these people seems especially appropriate today: "Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). This is what faith in God is about! It does not add to our burden. It offers support and control of the loads we carry and it calls us to live beyond the small world we experience when we try to live life alone. Friend, perhaps you are experiencing some difficulty in gaining control of your life and the future may appear bleak for you. If so, I'd like to send you a small booklet that contains a positive message of hope and encouragement. The booklet is titled "TOMORROW CAN BE BETTER". To obtain your FREE copy, just write to me at the following address and you will receive it by return mail. The address is: P.O. Box 1540, Albany WA 6331. My Telephone number is: (08) 9841 8418. Email: abl-alb@omninet.net.au Thank you for taking the time to read what I have shared with you today. I hope you have been encouraged. If things go wrong, don't go with them. Roger Babson

"I JUST can't go on fighting and suffering anymore." Paul Gaines used these words to explain to his wife and family why he decided to take his own life.

A motorcycle accident had left Paul unable to work in the grocery warehouse where he had worked as a storeman for 18-years. He slowly developed medical problems: kidney disease, back pain, dizziness, glaucoma, cataracts. He went to bed in pain and woke up in pain.

Other employers would not consider him; he was a medical risk. After his application for a disability pension was rejected for the fourth time, he gave up. He apologized to his wife, saying "I am sorry for getting us in the mess we are in. I can't get help when we need it the most. I can't work to help you out of this mess. Try to do the best you can. Heaven knows I love you."

Paul Gaines life seemed to be out of control. By the same token, many other people feel they are victims of unfair spouses, of unfeeling employers, or of political and social forces beyond their control.

Friend, if your life seems out of control, don't be a passive spectator! Try devoting yourself to a larger cause.

Gail Sheehy stirs the imagination with her two books, "Passages" and "Pathfinders." "Passages" describes the predictable crises many people face in life. "Pathfinders" asks, "Why are some people more capable of responding positively than others?" As Gail researched for her books, she questioned many people to determine if they devoted themselves to a cause or purpose beyond themselves. Most people answered "No." They explained: "My own cause is most important," or "My cause is expanding myself," or "I don't feel outside myself."

Friend, Gail's research shows a striking correlation between people who find a "greater cause than themselves" and the people who express a higher degree of satisfaction with life. She reports, "The greater the well-being the person reflected, the more likely he or she was to have an outside purpose." She concludes, "This distinction is so considerable that it makes the current popular philosophy of looking out for Number One sound like a national suicide pact."

As you read the New Testament, it is obvious that Jesus worked among people who lived in grinding poverty. Their country was occupied by Roman Legionnaires and life seemed out of control. One of his sayings to these people seems especially appropriate today: "Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

This is what faith in God is about! It does not add to our burden. It offers support and control of the loads we carry and it calls us to live beyond the small world we experience when we try to live life alone.

Friend, perhaps you are experiencing some difficulty in gaining control of your life and the future may appear bleak for you. If so, I'd like to send you a small booklet that contains a positive message of hope and encouragement. The booklet is titled "TOMORROW CAN BE BETTER". To obtain your FREE copy, just write to me at the following address and you will receive it by return mail. The address is: P.O. Box 1540, Albany WA 6331. My Telephone number is: (08) 9841 8418. Email: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

Thank you for taking the time to read what I have shared with you today. I hope you have been encouraged.

If things go wrong, don't go with them. Roger Babson