The other day I had the television on in the background while I listened to The History of Christian Theology. The movie on television was the The Lone Ranger with Johnny Deep and Armie Hammer. Not usually a movie that would interest me, but I left it on.
Like many good westerns, the original Lone Ranger, and this 2013 interpretation, the iron horse plays a significant role. The run away train expresses the chase scene, building suspense. There were several run away train scenes in the movie, they tend to get your attention. Always looking for solutions, I thought, why don’t they disconnect the train cars?”
If you feel like you are out of control, why not disconnect your car. Out of control rarely feels good. Some might live for danger, I have more than enough adrenalin related sensations as it is.
At some point in life, most of us hit the stage where we can reflect on our thoughts, actions, and situation. When we take time to think about control, we inevitably realize that we are in limited control. Our run away train can relate to jobs, family, organizations or morals. There is always some run away train. The danger in being out of control is going where you do not want to go, or ending how you do not want to end. Many dangerous moments and event can be overcome. Our train can move on, they are not the end.
As we develop reflection, we find that even our desires are out of our control. If you don’t like Brussels sprouts, you can’t always choose to like the little cabbages. Sushi, tofu, fish eggs, okra, kimchi, or chopped liver might be applicable examples.
Other people can fit into this category as well. In the past you have had close friends, friends with whom you are no longer as close. After drifting apart, it is not always easy to reconnect. Sometimes trying to reconnect is futile.
Emotions are out of our control as well. We can learn to cope with emotions, even hold them at bay, but we can not choose to change our emotions at will. We can pretend not have emotions, and lie to ourselves. Even burned and calloused there are still emotions which can’t be flipped like switch.
Can you imagine what it would be like if you were able to control your emotions, desires, and relationships at will. Our lives may not be recognizable. These are aspects of life with their own ends, usually short term ends. Undesired ends may mess up the near future or destroy a few years, but they do not always lead to a final train wreck.
Knowing where the train is heading is the first step. To avoid this consideration because it seems painful, tiring, or any other reason, just leaves us on a run away train in the dark. Once we identify our destination we can consider alternatives.
When our life is out of control, on the wrong track, we have nothing to look forward to but a train wreck. If you notice you are out of control, consider disengaging. I have included few verses which are useful in letting God disengage us and place us on the path that does not end in a train wreck
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
8 “And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; 9 but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
8 But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”