The rock path
Everything in life is a choice—are you choosing the best?
There are many choices for every situation or issue that we face daily, and some days it seems everything goes well; people help us, the details of events/projects fall into place, outcomes and rewards are visible. However, there are days though, when everything seems to be up hill or full of under-currents.
Even so, we need to recognize that we do have choices to make whether our day is going according to our plan or we find that we are faced with unexpected happenings. It is vital that we learn to be truly in our unique flow regardless of what is taking place around us or even how far off basis our plans have become.
We have to continue to be ourselves and moving forward in a productive manner; no matter what the given situation and be flexible with our plans in order to still be effective and make choices that are suitable.
Recently a team of 23 of us went to Chauffard, Haiti to build and repair houses (among other things) that had been destroyed or damaged from the earthquakes. While there we ran into a few setbacks which did not allow the building team to accomplish the big project they went to do-rebuild 3 houses. All of the supplies that we had shipped to Haiti before we were to arrive were stuck in customs and we were unable to “free” them (so to speak) without a certain receipt that was in the hands of a man in Miami, FL.
A few points to keep in mind that will aid us in such situations or issues in our daily living or when we are serving others are described as being:
• Consistent
• Contemplative
• Decisive
• Determined
• Focused
• Introspective
• Organized
• Persistent
There is strength in these characteristics as we make choices and when we fail to take ownership of our choice we generally berate ourselves over past deeds, perceived mistakes and experiences, and that stops the flow of creativity and forward movement in our lives.
It was great to see the team take the initiative and find other projects that they could put their hands to with the few supplies that we were able to get in Port-au-Prince. And even to the point of gathering rocks to create a more suitable path to walk on with all the mud we encountered from the rain while we were there.
If we would like to live in the ebb and flow of our lives, we have to learn to live in the moment and make choices that are the best for that particular situation, knowing that other influences will be going on all around us, but it doesn’t mean that they will dictate how, when, and if we respond.
Many people are afraid to take ownership of their choices because they feel that their choices are not credible, important, or in the end will be wrong. The opposite is true and our choices in life do count each and every moment of the day. Thanks team for making positive and proactive choices even when things didn’t go according to what was planned!
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for He is your life…
Deuteronomy 30:19-20a
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Liz, great article! I loved it.
Thank you so much for the great writing!