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Life Notes: Choices Make the Differenceby Warren Blakeman, Clergy Representative, Development Department Years ago there was a popular film called, "Oh God!" It starred George Burns and John Denver, as a grocery clerk who is visited by "God". Much of its theology was questionable, but it had one profound exchange. Denver asks, "What on the world do you want of me?" "God" answers, "I want a messenger to tell people that it will work, and that it is choices that make the difference." Between our formative years and our death we make choices. Some are great choices deciding our life mate, our life work, and our life faith. Others may seem more routine, yet those choices can affect our health and relationships. Everytime we choose to do a mean or petty thing we put a drop of poison into the bloodstream of our family, community and world. Everytime we do a good or kind thing we put a drop of healing into that same bloodstream. Children, youth and adults need to learn that our choices have consequences. Every choice we make has the power to hurt or the power to bless. Soren Kierkegaard, a 19th century Danish philosopher, told a marvelous story about a man in a canoe going down a river. The current became more rapid, he heard a roar ahead and as he rounded a curve he saw spume spraying upward…he was headed toward a waterfall. He had to make a choice. He could row toward the left shore or desperately try to make the right shore. He could possibly try to steer toward the large boulder in the center of the river, leap off and wait to be rescued. Or ... he could lay back in the canoe and sing, "Que Sera, Que Sera" (whatever will be will be). The choice is his, but there is one thing that he cannot choose. He is not free - NOT TO CHOOSE! Because whatever he decides he has made his choice. The mature person doesn't just react to others, but hopefully choose to speak and act in ways that will bless. Life Notes: Complete List 2004 2003 The Life Notes articles are written by staff of Louisiana Methodist Children's Home and are published in The Ruston Daily Leader. | |||
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