How Much Do YOU Control? (Part 1)
In the next few messages, I’m going to discuss the issue of free will. At some point in your life, you’ve probably thought about the extent to which humans have free will. We’re going to dig deeper and do a more thorough investigation than you might have done in the past.
This is not an issue where we can come to a definitive conclusion either way. Yet, I have found that the investigation can help us on the spiritual journey to gain some insights about ourselves and our relationship to God. This inquiry can also help us to understand the workings of the mind and ego.
For some, a discussion of free will is very stimulating. Others might find it silly, or at odds with their religious beliefs.
Some may be scared to go down this path, feeling a loss of control. I invite you to keep an open mind, but don’t be surprised if you get defensive - and your mind vigorously clings to your existing belief system.
I recognize that some of you look for certainty in your spiritual life. That has not been my path. I embrace uncertainty - not about the existence of God, but about the nature of this universe and our relationship to God. With that in mind, let’s jump into this subject of free will.
I’m going to list a series of phenomena and with each, I’d like you to determine whether this is something You control — or whether it is something God controls, without any input from You.
We’ll start with your appearance on this Earth. Did You choose to be born here and did You arrange everything - your date of birth, family, geographical location, and physical characteristics?
Or is that God’s domain? There are some who believe that we do, in fact, choose the circumstances of our earthly birth, but the vast majority would say that those decisions are made by God, without our participation. Personally, I believe that I had nothing to do with showing up here, and that God made the decision.
How about the date of your death? Do you think You determine that - or does God decide? Frequently, when someone dies, you hear people say something like, “Well, when your time is up, you’re out of here,” meaning that God has predetermined the date of each person’s death, and there is nothing the person can do to change it. In any event, trust your own instincts about the extent of control you may have over the date of your death.
Let’s move on to the physical body and its processes. Who controls each of these - God or You? I’ll offer my own view on each, but feel free to disagree with me.
Breathing: I think we can agree God handles this one.
Heart beat and circulatory system: God’s domain.
Genetics, DNA: God’s domain.
Digestion and Absorption: God’s domain.
Elimination Systems: God’s domain.
Healing of cuts and bruises: God’s domain.
Fighting disease/immune system: God’s domain.
All functions of the five senses: God’s domain.
With respect to these body functions (and the organs which carry out these functions), you would agree that You didn’t create them. However, You can certainly argue that You have some influence on how these systems operate. In other words, if you exercise or eat healthy foods, your heart, digestive system and immune system might function more effectively. On the other hand, there is no way for You to be sure of Your role in this.
You don’t know whether You are choosing to eat the healthy foods of Your own choice, or whether this is somehow programmed into you.
Furthermore, we all know people who eat healthy foods and die at a very young age. Why does that happen? How much control do we really have over our health and body functions? At the very least, I think you’d agree that certain results can’t be explained and that whatever control we might have is limited.
In addition, if we control our health, how does a two-month old baby get cancer? The child’s free will couldn’t be developed yet. Some outside force seems to have control over the health of that baby, unless you believe it is a purely random occurrence with no cause. Let’s look at all of the movements and actions of a baby or very young child. Few would claim that the infant has free will in making decisions. Who then is moving the arms and legs of the child, or the head of the child?
If you believe that the child eventually does acquire free will, at what age does this happen? When does God hand over the controls to the child and say, “Now it’s up to You. I’m releasing the control and You can now make decisions on your own. You can move your arms and legs when You choose.” Does this “transfer” happen at two years old? Two years and six months?
Does it vary for each child?
Before we leave this subject of body movements, let’s consider Your body movements as an adult. Are You certain that You are doing all of these each time your arm or leg moves? When you scratch your ear, or put your hand on your face, do You control each of these movements? You cross your legs or move your toes without even thinking about it. Who initiates those movements? Right this moment, your body is moving in ways you’re not even aware of. Who is doing it?
We know that body movements are happening even while you are asleep. You are moving your arms, legs, head and toes while you are asleep. Who is in control of these movements while you are asleep? Obviously, there is some power that is able to move these things without You even being awake! What makes You think this power isn’t moving them when you ARE awake?
Do we hand over the power to move our body when we go to sleep - and then “retrieve” our free will from God when we get up in the morning?
Now, let’s consider Nature and the non-human life forms in the world. This includes the weather, rivers and oceans, planets, stars, galaxies, plants, insects, fish, animals and so forth.
How much control do You have over these things? You didn’t create them. You don’t control the rising and setting of the sun or the movement of the ocean waves.
You could argue that You have some affect on these things as a result of your behavior. Thus, we can cause global warming or pollution of the waterways as a result of our actions. But the everyday functioning of the universe and its life forms are not in Your control. You wouldn’t argue that You control when it is going to rain or where the next earthquake will take place. You wouldn’t say that You control when and where birds fly or what actions bees take in their hives. There is a Higher Power that controls these movements.
The insects and fish don’t have free will. Yet they move about effortlessly. Thus, it seems free will is not required for organisms to move. There is some power that can initiate movements for them. Are you certain that you are exempt from this principle - and that you are controlling all your own movements and making your own decisions?
I’ve given you a lot to chew on. Some of you may be dizzy from all these questions so let’s take a break. Your ego may be getting very defensive now, as it wants you to believe it is controlling the show and that you have extensive free will. When you question the extent of your free will, you are challenging the ego’s power and authority. The ego does not yield gracefully.
When free will is challenged, the ego will often say, “If we don’t have free will, then what is the use of doing anything?
Why not just sit on the couch all day?” This is another smokescreen initiated by the ego. If you didn’t have free will, you wouldn’t have any control over whether you sit on the couch!
Beware of the ego’s tricks and its attempts to distract you from doing this investigation.
In the next message, I will continue our exploration of free will, including a discussion of our thoughts and the extent to which we control them.
I’m not asking you to change your beliefs on the issue of free will based on what you have read thus far. Maintain an open mind as You go through these messages and let Your truth speak to You.
– Jeff Keller
© 2008