Oops! Sometimes I’m an opinionated control freak.

Photo by Maureen Kennedy Macel

… Jesus’ mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now. … John 2:5-10

While reading this the other day, I was struck by the servants’ silence and obedience. I became aware of my own tendency to weigh in on things and to share opinions and viewpoints that I feel are correct and justified.

If I was in the story, it would probably read much differently: Jesus would say, “Fill the jars with water. … Now take them to the chief steward.” And I may say to him or those around me, “What does he think he’s doing? What is this going to fix? They don’t need water, they need wine.  Dang, these jars are heavy. Great, now this steward is going to think I'm out of my mind. If Mary would have asked me to take care of the wine, I would have done it another, better way instead.”

I’m grateful the helpers in the story were servants; I can learn a lot from them. If you’re like me and if opinions, criticisms, and complaints sometimes creep out of your mouth, this is a friendly reminder that we are not the center of the universe. God is at work in each of our lives. Would you like to join me in prayer and ask for the grace to walk where God is leading and to trust his plan?

Good and loving God, come into my heart and help me to follow you with obedience, trust, and faith. Create in me a willingness to be led. Free me from the desire to be in control and to be seen as "right" or better than others. Help me to recognize my ego at work and to bring it low so that your work may be accomplished and that you may be glorified. I believe in your love for me, and I trust you. Amen.