It’s Our Choice

I’ve written so many times about making choices because our choices are the bottom line. They make a difference for ourselves and for the world.

Even Jesus made choices:

“When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed

him.  A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said,

‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out his

hand and touched the man.

‘I am willing,’ Jesus said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately he was cleansed of his

leprosy.” (Matthew 8:1-3 The New International Version)

Jesus could have said no. He was tired. He had just preached the “Sermon on the Mount,” a full days’ work by any standard. He could have said, “Sorry, I’m just too tired. No healing energy left.” Instead he said, “I am willing.  Be clean.”

Here is another story of Jesus. This time, tired and hungry, Jesus chose differently. His frustration caused destruction.

“The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 

Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it

had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves,

because it was not the season for figs.Then he said to the tree,

‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’” And his disciples

heard him say it.”

The following day, “in the morning, as they went along, they saw

the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said

to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!’

“ (Matthew 11:12-14, 20-21 NIV)

Every day we make conscious choices. We speak with a friend or a stranger. We see pain, in their faces. In their voices, we can hear their hurt. It is our choice to recognize their pain. We can offer them an opportunity to talk and to share, should they so choose.  Or we can go on with our day and forget about them, or just ignore their pain. The next day, we stop at a red light. A woman on the corner holds out a coffee cup. We can choose to speak with kindness, and respect, and put coins in her cup, or not.… It will make a difference for her and for us. We can choose kindness every day. God gives us an abundance of opportunities.

Always our words, our actions, and even our unshared thoughts, are the best witness we can make for our faith.