I almost fell down and busted my rear as I was reaching over the fence into the neighbor’s yard.
My son heard me yell and came and took this snap shot of me… By then I had composed myself!
I was balancing on my step stool while attempting to cut the grape vines that grow like crazy. I was reaching (well it turns out over-reaching) to get to the vines growing on the other side of the fence. It was my intention that this cutting action would enable the vines on MY side of the fence to yield more – and also to reduce the growth of “my vine” into my neighbor’s much neater yard.
And as I was stretching and reaching wearing my slippers (I know… not smart) on the top step of the stool…. well… let’s just say it was close to disaster.
And it dawned on me that this is what we do so often. We “reach” to control our kids, who are seemingly growing out of control in areas we are uncomfortable with, we “reach” to control our spouse, who is not acting appropriately (for our taste anyway), or we “reach” to control our co-workers or employees so they can stay within the perimeter of what we find is the “best” way.
And this is all fine and good. A certain amount of trimming is needed for the vines to yield. Focus is needed for us to be able to carry out the things we want to do. Helping others to achieve their goals is a fine intention.
Yet at a certain point, we have to let go. When we over-reach and try to control that which really is out of our control – that which is beyond our reach – we run the risk of figuratively speaking falling down and busting our buns!
The Serenity Prayer comes to mind:
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”
As I write this – I send a thankful thought to the Universe for the lesson.
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