Choices

I really didn't mean to start my blog at such a poignant time of my life. It just happened that way. I had expected to just tell funny stories and stuff, and I'm sure I'll get to that, hopefully sooner than later. But, you know, life comes at you hard and fast sometimes.

I've been thinking a lot about choices the last few days at the instigation of my most recent weekend activities. My strength was drained Thursday and Friday as I attended the viewing of and subsequent funeral for a dear friend of mine, the man I've mentioned in previous blogs. The experience was needed, but it was not necessarily enjoyable. I would have much rather been on a road trip to build more memories with him, not to solely dwell on the now-final list of them.

He made a choice. He battled his demons for as long as he thought he could and chose not to do so anymore. He chose to leave this life behind and take the fast track to the next one. Although that became his last decision in this mortal existence, I'm sure there were previous decisions he made that led to his ultimate one.

As an aside, let me make it clear that I am not attempting to pass any kind of judgment on his life, character, family, or friends. I believe he was a good man, and I love and respect him. Let that suffice.

Saturday's attention was turned to my eight-year-old niece. She is bright and loving and wonderful and beautiful. She made a choice to be baptized, which ceremony was effected at nearly 10:30 this morning. It was her choice to receive that ordinance as a token of a covenant with her Maker. She chose to start her budding life on a path that leads to Him. It was a peaceful, meaningful, and joyous occasion juxtaposed to the difficult days previous.

As I sat surrounded by family in front of the baptismal font, the giddy buzz of young cousins chattering as the soundtrack, my mind returned to a favorite Old Testament scripture: Joshua 24:15 reads in part "choose you this day whom ye will serve,... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

My friend's final choice was not the right one. For whatever reason, he did not allow God to do what He has always promised He will do. My niece's choice Saturday was a good one. She will now hopefully build her own personal relationship with her Father in Heaven. I rededicated myself in that moment to follow my niece's example and choose to serve the Lord, without regard to any excuse that might attempt to settle on my horizon.

I believe that should be an important decision we make once in order to turn our lives completely to our Creator. For some that turn is more drastic than for others. I also believe that commitment should be restated daily in order to keep us on that path we chose.

Now here's the challenge: Choose ye this day whom ye will serve. Make a choice. Decide today, now, where you want your moral compass to point, and forge ahead. Do not dilly dally or lolly gag. Don't be so unfair to yourself and others that you give it a half-hearted effort or make empty excuses. Be the person you were born to be. Make the choices that will impact people for good and bring tears of joy, not sorrow. No matter where you are in life's journey or previous paths you've taken, chose now to go in the right direction. It will make all the difference.

That is the challenge I am making to myself. I am not yet the person I want to be, but I am recommitted to trying to get there. I don't expect that I or anyone will make all the right choices along the way because that was only possible for One. I only expect to use His help to get back up when I inevitably fall. No matter how far down you think you are now, I promise He'll lift you up too.