Musing - How important are our choices?

Hebraic Musing - How important are our choices?

I heard it said that “if we could comprehend just how powerful every choice we made really was, we would be too afraid to move out of our chairs.” 

Here’s a classic Biblical example of the consequences of a choice.  Last year Irene and I stood on Mount Nebo in Jordan, famous as the place where God told Moses that the Israelites were to possess all the land that can be seen from there!  But God also reminded Moses that he would not be permitted to enter that land.  Why? 

“This is because both of you (Aaron & Moses) broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh … and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites.  Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel." Deut. 32:51-52 NIV     

Moses learned the hard way that everything we do has repercussions. The first part of the verse refers to the obvious wrong-doing – “you broke faith with me . . .” But the second part of the verse points out the missed opportunity – “you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites.” There are the two aspects we need to consider when we do wrong:  
First, the direct consequences of wrong-doing; and
Second, what opportunities are we missing to do something that could be absolutely amazing?

Here’s a practical everyday example to consider:

Suppose someone says something unkind to you?  How do you respond?

First, if you lash out at them with an unkind response, you are probably exacerbating the problem and you will be putting that person into a funk mood or serious depression or worse.  I’m reminded of a scenario my father told me: When the boss started shouting at the employee and the employee said “Boss, when you get me upset, I’ll go home and shout at my wife, and she’ll slap our boy, and he’ll kick the dog.  Now what did the dog do to you?”

Secondly, you also have missed a golden opportunity to minister to that person by responding kindly, thus uplifting their spirits and helping them have a good day.  An act of kindness, a simple apology or a friendly response will likely be passed on to folks they will be meeting later that day; thus, words of kindness could inspire him/her to be kind and to help someone else during the day, and so on. And so on!

So why not simply say “Thank you” and smile.

Points to ponder

Should we go about our day fearing doing wrong?

Or should we be inspired by opportunities that result from doing what is right?

Have and give a great day!

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                              February 10, 2015