DR. PETE WEISS: From Hurricanes To Economy and Culture Shifts, Many Forces Are Beyond Our Control

By  //  September 4, 2017

Feeling Small (but peaceful)

From hurricanes and floods to shifts in the economy and culture, we are all caught up in natural and social forces beyond our control.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA — Events have got me feeling small lately.

Perhaps you too. From hurricanes and floods to shifts in the economy and culture, we are all caught up in natural and social forces beyond our control.

Way beyond our control. Beyond our influence even. America has over 300 million residents of which I am just one. The world has 7½ billion. I will not be changing the world or the country.

Our American culture and media don’t encourage thinking of oneself as small and relatively powerless. On the contrary, people are encouraged to worry about numerous issues over which they have no (or exceedingly little) influence.

We’re told to “stand up,” “be heard” and “make a difference” on every new “crisis.” I think all that does is get us agitated and shouting at (or worse – fighting with) one another. And the media feeds off the fighting. Regardless, the vast majority of us are just along for the ride as large-scale history is written.

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With the media feeding off of America’s ongoing cultural and political divisiveness, we’re driven to agitation, frustration and fighting among ourselves – with no ultimate constructive outcome.

Yet here I am. I’m alive! I can enjoy my life, and I’ve got plenty of personal and local issues on which I can, and should, make a difference. Issues such as my health, wellbeing, marriage, family, friends, church, finances, home, and neighborhood.

The more I focus on these and the less on geopolitics and major cultural shifts, the better I get. Thinking small is working for me.

However, even at the personal level, many events are still outside of my control. For example, I’ve recently developed an irritating case of ocular rosacea (fortunately minor, but illustrative).

Illness comes. Aging continues. Accidents happen. Jobs end. The kids are going to do what they’re going to do. That’s life.

Truly, I am small. I can’t control much, but I trust in the one who can. Therefore, I can be at peace. I wish you the same.

DR. PETE WEISS: Truly, I am small. I can’t control much, but I trust in the one who can. Therefore, I can be at peace. I wish you the same.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

– Jesus (Mathew 6:25-34 NIV)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Pete Weiss

Dr. Pete Weiss

Dr. Peter Weiss is a physician, healthcare executive, author, speaker and health coach with a passion for helping others to health and wellness.  His book on personal health, More Health, Less Care, has drawn excellent reviews, and his newest book, The Love Fight, was released in November 2014.  Formerly CEO of Health First Health Plans and Senior Vice President at Florida Hospital in Orlando, you can find him on the web at Healthdiscipleship.com.

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