Universal Remote Control?

Though none of us have a universal remote control that gives us power over the entire universe, we do have power over a particular domain; our domain.

For instance, my husband and I own a home on a city lot. It is our territory and we are in charge of it. Being in charge of our territory means we are responsible for taking care of it; keeping it in shape inside and out. 

Exterior home upkeep requires mowing the lawn, removing the snow, painting the house, and trimming the trees. Interior upkeep is simpler. It includes keeping clutter and dust mites to a minimum, walls and windows clean and regularly tending to dirty dishes and laundry.    

When I open up our door to friends, family or acquaintances, I welcome them into our domain and take charge of making them feel welcome. Not often, but on rare occasions, I’ve had to ask people to leave because of their arrogance or disrespect. But, that’s my right. They are in the domain that I’ve been put in charge of and sometimes being in charge means standing against what is not good.

But, besides home and property, my realm of responsibility extends out into the community as well. 

As a yoga instructor, it is up to me to create a safe and welcoming place for my students to come and practice their yoga. When they come to one of my classes it is up to me to be there, ready to instruct and lead them in yoga.

I also have a realm of duty as an adult swimming instructor. I listen to my students tell me their goals and watch them swim in order to help them to make the necessary corrections so they are better swimmers.  

These are just a few of the domains I have charge over, but I know that because they are my domains, I am in charge of them. Though we sometimes help our elderly neighbor with snow shoveling or picking up and hauling away yard debris, we don’t police the people in our neighborhood whose property is in disrepair. What is theirs is theirs and theirs is not ours. 

When I open our door to friends, family or acquaintances, I welcome them into our domain and take charge of making them feel welcome. But I am not in charge of how they feel. That is their realm, not mine. 

And though I take responsibility to teach yoga and swimming to the best of my ability, I am not in charge of how much my students gain from my classes. If they are engaged, attentive and willing, they will walk away with numerous benefits. But if they are disengaged and simply going through the motions, they will walk away with little to nothing. 

Who Put Us in Charge?

Though God is the master of the universe, he created Adam and all the other human beings after him, in his image. God made Adam the master gardener and animal namer in Paradise and he makes us masters over whatever little paradises he’s given us. 

God knows humans have a need to have some control in life. 

Trouble arises, though, when we mistakenly think we are in charge of things that we are not in charge of or when we do not take charge of what we are in charge of. How do we know for sure where our domain begins and ends? 

By asking God the simple question, “Am I responsible for this?” I undoubtedly am given an answer. And once I’m shown what is mine to care for and about, then it is hard for me to unsee it. 

Why Bother?

Why bother being responsible for your world? God knows we like being in charge. That is why he gave us charge over our own little dominions. Discover your responsibilities and then take charge.