Who's In Charge Here?My favorite author, Robert Fulghum, once wrote an essay about a small town Fire Department that responded to a second story apartment fire. In
bedroom of apartment they discovered a buring bed with a man lying in it. They doused fire and pulled man to safety.
After which, they asked victim, "What happened here?" The man responded, "I don't know, it was on fire when I lay down on it!" Ah...that's human dilemma isn't it? There are times when we simply don't understand our own behavior, let alone behavior of others. Traditionally, preachers have stirred a lot of stink and psychiatrists' have made a lot of money over this problem.
The problem here is that we all have "life scripts" that run in our heads 24/7. These scripts pretty much govern our perception of reality. They control our internal dialogue. For example, during my growing up years I was told by many people in many different ways that I'd never amount to much...didn't have much potential...didn't have what it takes to succeed.
When I went out for football in High School my coach told me, as he handed me a new pair of cleats, "Pilkington, if you are half as good as these new shoes, boy you'll really be something." As a kid and teenager when you are told that or something similar enough times , you begin to believe it and it becomes a "life script" written on slate of your spirit.
Once you accept a "life script" then you begin to believe it. After all, it must be true because you wouldn't lie to yourself. Or would you? What happens as you move into adulthood, having believed that "life script" is that past reaches into present and determines future.
