Decisions, Decisions, Decisions.
There are times
when trying to live the Christian life means tough choices. Those are moments
when it becomes crystal clear that we
can no longer say we are followers of Jesus and continue on the path we are on. We weigh the consequences of our decision:
the positives and negatives, the emotional, financial and social price to be
paid. We can do that for a long time, afraid to decide, hoping that we won’t
have to choose. While we hesitate, we
can get caught in limbo while we go back and forth between the options. In one sense, we get stuck and, even though
life happens to us, we are not the protagonists; we only begin experiencing the consequences of our indecision. Not
deciding brings consequences too. We might
hesitate because our choice may cause someone else either hurt or
disappointment- after all, we don’t want to be the cause of someone else’s pain. Or, we might
delay choosing because we don't know where the path might take us, so we balk at the thought of leaving the safe and comfortable to
strike out towards the unknown.
When a person
leaves prison, he or she is overwhelmed by the choices that can come thick and fast. Where to live? Who to hang out with? How to live? In aftercare, our role is
to help clarify the different options before the person, and educate as to which might be the way
of Jesus. We can only encourage people
to choose His way. We might like to make the choices for them, but that would
be wrong and in the end, pointless. So we watch them choose and try to love them as they do so.
As I write this, I
can think of at least two folks I know who are at a fork in their road. If they
don’t know it yet, they will do so soon. I
hope that they choose well. I pray they choose to follow Jesus and His way, even though it means they
will be letting some people down and even though it might take them on a rocky
road for a time. Their needs are being
incompletely met at this time- only He can offer abundant life.
Joshua 24:15
….choose
this day whom you will serve…
Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to
his disciples, "Those who want to come with me must say no to the things
they want, pick up their crosses, and follow
me.
