'Choices'
I Was Thinking…
Back in the 1980’s, the fast food chain Wendy’s ran a famous TV ad depicting a fashion show in the old Soviet Union. As the show’s emcee declares, in a thick Russian accent, “Day wear!” a Russian woman struts across the catwalk wearing a drab, proletarian cloth dress. “Very nice,” says the announcer. Next up? “Evening wear!” The same woman struts across the catwalk in the exact same dress—but holding a flashlight. Swim wear? Same woman, same dress—this time holding a beach ball. The tagline: “Having no choice is no fun.” (Love Your Enemies, Arthur C. Brooks, P.160)
All people love a choice. Parenting wisdom says give children a choice, “Bedtime 8 or 8:15?” The result is less fuss and frustration because the child has a choice. Life is full of choices. What color tie? What color dress? Then what shoes and what purse? Choices abound.
I love the choices that God gives us every day. Each day we approach either as “Good God, it’s morning!” or “Good morning God!” The free-will God gives each of us is one of the greatest gifts…yet it can lead to a great curse and misery. Bad choices and their consequences can cripple us. Wise choices made after prayerful thought and trusted confidant conversations can lead to joy beyond words.
Joshua writes to his contemporaries, “Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (24:15)
I remember Billy Graham once saying, “Not to decide is to decide”. Joshua made a choice. Billy invited his listeners to make a choice…or to understand that no decision can in fact be a big decision.
What choices am I making in my life these days? Am I choosing to serve the Lord or am I choosing to serve self? Am I choosing wisely? Or will I discover bad consequences coming my way as a result of bad choices?
I pause this week to evaluate my choices…I invite you to join me. May I grow in wisdom and in stature as I decide that I will serve the Lord.
Always Thinking…
comments powered by Disqus