choice

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Make The Wise Choice

When you make the wrong choice, it often causes you more work in the end. 

There was a little, almost undetectable rain falling yesterday afternoon. It wasn’t as light as a mist, but not much more than a mist. 

I looked intently out my living room window at my Christmas lights that were still hanging just below the roof line. They looked out of place on a snow-covered winter day in February.

I realized I should get out there and take them off the house while it was mild out. 

As I pondered that thought, I walked through our living room and kitchen and looked out the back patio doors … at a deeply snow-covered deck.

I thought I should get out there and shovel the snow off the deck before another deep freeze made it harder to shovel. 

I had two jobs and I needed to choose which one I would do first.

We are often faced with the decision to choose between one of two things. 

I remember once when I had planned a full day of work around the house. I had a list of things that I needed and wanted to get done. It was the first day in several weeks that I was free to get at my list. 

Then I got a call from a friend who said, “We had a guy drop out of our hockey team this weekend and we need someone for a tournament we are in.” 

Choices, choices. What should I choose?

It took me a nano second to decide. I chose the house work. 

Wait a minute! … no, I didn’t. I almost had my hockey bag packed up and ready to go by the time I got off the phone with my friend. 

It was an easy decision. I chose the thing I loved over the things I had planned and wanted to accomplish.

This time the choices were not very different. It wasn’t a matter of one being fun and the other work. They were both work.

I had limited time and what I decided to do was first take down the lights and then shovel. I knew that the lights would come off quickly and I might still have time to shovel.

And that’s what I did … except company came as I was finishing taking down the lights, so I never got to shovel the deck.

Now a day later, it’s not raining. It’s even warmer outside which means the snow on the deck is heavier and will be harder to move than if I had done it yesterday.  

It will take me twice as long to shovel today than it would have if I had have tackled the deck the day before. But if I had have left the lights for today, it would have taken the same amount of time to remove them. 

As the Knight Templar in the movie Raiders of the Holy Grail said, “You chose poorly.”

I’m glad my face won’t melt off, but it’s now going to take me longer to remove that snow.

Here’s the thing: We often have a choice to make on two seeming even things. But if we choose poorly, it will cost us. We should think it through and choose wisely. There are spiritual choices you are confronted with: choosing salvation now or choosing something else for the immediate; following through on something God has put on your heart or choosing a different option. If you choose poorly on these, it will cost you in the end. In the case of salvation, it will cost you your eternity. Choose wisely.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What choices are you facing today? Leave your comments below.

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Difficult Choice

It’s alway more difficult to make the hard choice over the easy one.

bloodtest

Not long ago I did a blood test for my doctor. I say it’s for him because he’s the one that asked for it. Personally, I had no desire to have a blood test.

It was not anything special, just a routine test I should probably have every year … but I’ve extended it a little – like about 2 1/2 years!

Since the test, I’ve been holding my breath hoping that my blood was red or the right colour of red, or whatever they were looking for in my blood. One week went by and I thought, “That’s a good sign. I haven’t heard anything, so maybe everything’s good.”

But I wasn’t convinced, so I thought I’d hold my breath for another week, just to make sure. The week went by; still nothing from my doctor and I was starting to think about breathing again.  That’s when my doctor informed me that my cholesterol was high.

My first thought was, “What’s wrong with my cholesterol pills? Are they not working? Did they give me a placebo? Are they past their expiry date?” Then I realized, no, I just thought I was immune to bad cholesterol while being on them.

I’d been living large, thinking I could eat anything because my cholesterol pills would eradicate any of the bad stuff out of my system.

My doctor and I had a brief chat about my recourse: Option 1 was to double my cholesterol pills.  If I did that maybe I could go on eating as I pleased. But I wanted a different option. Option 2 was lose weight.

I’ve done that before. I lost 28 pounds in six months once. I lost 10 pounds when I had my heart attack. There were a couple of times I lost 5 pounds just by getting the flu.

But this is a little different. I have to have a plan for eating, and I know that’s not going to be easy.

When I lost that 28 pounds, I only ate things that were low on the glycemic index. That got rather boring after a while and difficult to manage. So this time my strategy is a little different. I’m only eating at meal times. I’m not restricting my diet, just not eating outside breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I started five days ago and it’s been doable. There have been a couple of times I’ve wanted to search out a little snack in the evening, but I’ve resisted heading for the panty where I’ve got a stash of liquorice.

I don’t like not being able to snack, but the crazy thing is I’m feeling better. I’ve also lost 4 pounds (by the way, I’m whispering so my wife doesn’t hear me write this – it bugs her that I can lose weight so easily).

Losing weight has not been a problem for me when I really work at it. Like most people, my problem is in keeping it off! My desire for a good burger and fries, wings, Dr. Pepper, chocolate, liquorice – well you get the idea – is strong!

Right now I’m motivated for the challenge … we’ll see where this takes me.

Here’s the thing: I’ve chosen the hard option – to reduce my cholesterol – but many are inclined to take the easy way. The life of a Christian is not taking the easy way. It is taking the hard option of being obedient to God and His will over living to one’s own impulses and desires. It will always be a challenge and the easy way will always be a temptation.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: When have you had to choose between the hard and easy options? Leave your comment below.