What we do to the planet, to another people, to another generation affects us all. Life is not ours to control, but to understand. Our role in this world is to make life better for all. Learning to be adaptive, creative, conscientious, and whole is much more important than attempting to control what cannot truly be controlled. The human tendency is to try to control what we fear.
Most people fear chaos.
When chaos is understood as a natural, normal, and necessary part of life, we are free of the need to control. We enter chaos with a new acceptance, learning the critical lessons of adaptability and interdependence. In the church, the need to control often prevents the majority of our members from entering into meaningful ministry and service. Control destroys the spirit of creativity, risk-taking, innovation, and participation. Systems thinking expands our sense of church to encompass the whole people of God.