control | Robert & Kay Camenisch

Image result for image of a girl on a jet ski “Nobody should have control of another person the way that man took control over my life.” The conviction in Alex’s voice left no doubt that she was right.

Alex Otte was talking about the man that ran into her on July 2, 2007, when she was 13 years old. It was the end of a celebration day at the lake. Alex was on a jet ski, ready to ready to turn into the dock when she saw the boat speeding toward her. Following lake etiquette, she sat still, giving the boat clear passage on either side of her.

Then she watched as the boat came straight at her. It ran up her body, split the jet ski in two, flipped over above her and fell back on top of her.

Alex suffered shaken-baby syndrome causing multiple brain bleeds and was in a coma for two weeks. Her jaw was destroyed, her collarbone broken, her liver split, both femurs shattered, and her lower leg chewed up by the propeller.

She was not expected to live long enough to reach the hospital. And she wouldn’t have without numerous miraculous “coincidences”—such as parents trained in emergency response and trauma care, the transport helicopter was only ten minutes away, an adjacent field allowed the helicopter to land close by, and more.

Once at the hospital and stabilized, Alex was given just 24 hours to live, but she beat all odds. She’s now a sophomore in college and spoke at our Ladies Luncheon on Saturday.

She shared her story of surviving 8 surgeries in 7 days, difficulties of learning to deal with life as an amputee, and lingering short-term memory difficulties from head trauma. In spite of the odds, her determination to live enabled Alex to begin school with her classmates in August, just 2½ months after the accident. She was passionate and powerful as a speaker, but what impacted me most was her response to a question.

Image result for image of teen girl in hospital When asked what led her, a 13-year-old, to forgive her offender while still in the hospital, Alex answered without hesitation. “Nobody should have control of another person the way that man took control over my life. And I didn’t want him to control me any more. I wanted to live my own life fully. I forgave him so I could move on with my life.”

It was harder for her family to forgive and has been made even more difficult because the drunk who ran into her has never been prosecuted, in spite of the fact that he had a blood alcohol level several times the legal limit.

Alex shared that one family member has still not forgiven him, and “she freaks out about everything. But I don’t have a problem. I am free to live my life.”

I couldn’t help but wonder how many people are not free to live their lives, because they are still controlled by those who’ve hurt them. Sometimes the offender is someone close and their wound is very personal. It could be someone at work, or even nameless people with a different ideology and cultural background.

There are many opportunities in life to be upset, but it’s our choice how we deal with those situations. We can hang onto the hurt and seek justice, or we can forgive so that we can live our lives to the fullest.

Alex is now 19 years old and she mentors other young people who lose limbs, helping them to accept a new way of life. She speaks in schools all across the state. She works with Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) and is in constant communication with them. She has helped pass a state law concerning drunk drivers and is working with lawyers to craft a law concerning drunk boaters.

She is also a designated driver for many college friends when they choose to drink. All that and more on top of a full college schedule and two part time jobs. Alex said she is grateful for her trial because God is using it for good, and she believes He is not finished with her yet.

Giving up and seeking revenge would have been easy. Instead, Alex is living life to the fullest, because she forgave the man who could have destroyed her. She took control of her life.

Through Alex, I’m confronted with the question, “Who controls your life?”

Our summer has been hijacked. Renovations have taken over our lives.

In early summer, Robert began painting the outside of our big, 100-
year-old house. The job is long overdue. We knew it wouldn’t be simple and would take time, but we didn’t know it would rule our whole summer.

First, Robert power-washed one side of the house and discovered that the paint Displaying IMG_0421.JPG was turning loose from the stucco in spots and that the loose paint on the whole wall needed to be removed with a steal brush. Then he realized the soffit (the wood under the roof overhang) had rotted and a long section would have to be replaced.

Rotten wood needed repair in several other places too. It was further complicated by the need to find thicker wood and plane it down so it would fit properly. Work often required two ladders against the house with scaffolding between them so they could reach the 25 to 30 feet high work area.

Complications happened daily, like the need to replace a couple of windows.

Normal responsibilities and involvement in the lives of others also created delays. In addition, Robert had a couple of long trips, funerals, a delightful weekend with family, and so on.

High temperatures, high humidity, and frequent rains also made the work more draining, more difficult, and shortened many work days. But the job weighs on our minds, even when we’re taking a break, whether for work or pleasure.

I’ve realized that repair and upkeep on an old house has a lot in common with renewal in our spiritual lives. When God shines His spotlight on something in our lives that needs to be fixed, we may agree that it’s needed, and may even realize it’s a big job, but we rarely understand what will be involved or how long it will take.

We picture sprucing up the outside, and then realize we can’t do that until we power-wash and scrape the trash away. Then we discover hidden rottenness (sin) that needs to go. We appreciate a face-lift, but rarely consider all that it might require.

In the midst of the make-over, we welcome any distractions that offer a break from the pain of cleaning up the old man so Jesus can make us new. However, in the midst of daily activity, the renovation is never far from mind as God walks us through issues that need to be addressed before the job is done.

It seems that our lives are hijacked, on hold until the job is complete. Sometimes, like with the house, it seems it will never end.

However, without overhaul, rot will continue to grow and paint will continue to flake, allowing more damage. If it is not tackled, further deterioration will make the job more difficult .

Paint could be applied without fixing all the problems. For awhile, it may look good from the outside–while the rot continues within.

We, too, can paste on a smile and pretend we’re fixed up, while hiding rot which grows within. But God sees it.

Jesus said, “Woe to you, . . . hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness (Matt. 23:27).

Renovation is often rough. It can make us feel like we’re hijacked, out of control, and like we’ll never get through it. However, it’s worth it.

We can rejoice in the process because of the joy of the finished project. Cleaning decay and toxins (sin),

stops it from causing further destruction,
frees us from internal drain, temptation, and destruction so our peace and joy will be genuine, and
allows us to relate to others more freely and graciously. Most important, it
lets us receive love and grace from the Lord more consistently, so we can enjoy fellowship with and victory in Him.

Don’t wait to be hijacked for a make-over, move over and give the controls to God. Let Him dig as deep as He wants and take as long as He needs. When it’s over, you’ll be grateful.

He specializes in redemption.

What correlations do you see?

Robert & Kay Camenisch encouraging and equipping relationships

Who Controls Your Life?

Hijacked!