Choices. We make choices from the time we get up in the morning to the time we go to bed at night. Not all choices are equal. Not all are easy.
Let’s spend some time thinking about all the choices we make in a day’s time. We choose the time to get up in the morning. We choose to take a bath or a shower. We choose clothes — what type of clothes — for work, for recreation, what color?
What’s next? Breakfast — what shall we have? French toast? Bacon, eggs and toast? Cereal (which one)? And then, what to drink — coffee, juice or milk?
Do we fix breakfast for others in the house? More choices — what will we fix for them? But first, we must get them up and ready for their day — repeat — bath, shower, clothes!
We are ready to leave the house. Which car do we take? Today, we decide to take the pickup — we haven’t taken that in a long time. What route do we take?
We drop them off at school and arrive at work. We find a pile of invoices or a pile of papers to get through — to respond to. Which are more important or urgent?
What do we do for lunch? Where do we go? What do we order? More choices!
Then it’s back to work for more choices — finally time to go home. Time to relax, right? Not so fast. Do I need to run errands before going home? What will I fix for supper — something simple or something complex?
Tonight, there are some games on television. Which one will we watch? What channel is it on? Should I have a cola or a beer during the game? And snacks? Am I watching my intake?
It’s time for bed. First, prayer. We recite our favorite prayer before calling it a day. This often includes passages from sacred Scripture — which ones? Should we wear my favorite PJs or try something different? Should we set my alarm for the usual time, or do we want to go to church before work? Finally, we turn off the lights. We are ready for bed after a long day of choices.
Choices … choices … morning, noon and night!
Did you realize you make all these choices during the day? And this just scratches the surface. Most of these are made without much thought. But what about the more challenging decisions? What do we contemplate in making those decisions — especially those that affect others? Moral, ethical, faith-based, financial, social — the list goes on and on.
The Ten Commandments give us good choices. The precepts of the Church give us good choices as well. Scripture guides us in making good choices.
We can’t control all the situations we may find ourselves in, but we can always choose how we respond. As they say, “What would Jesus do?”
