“I
call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before
you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you
and your seed may live … “
Deuteronomy 30:19
What makes you happy?
Do you feel a bit closer to being whole when you run, or ride a bike? Does beauty matter to you a great deal? Are you at your best when helping someone
else? All of those questions contain
statements that ring true to somebody somewhere. We all experience moments when our hearts
expand, and we step into a place where our best selves shine more
brightly. Capturing those moments,
living in those moments, is what living a meaningful life is all about. Squandering time wallowing in inconsequential
worry and fretful chatter is the worst waste of time there is.
If, on the other hand, there is some action you can take to
make the world a better place, you need to get on that right away. Any right action, no matter how small, moves
every one of us toward love and peace and right living. I say again: no matter how small. So don’t worry about getting yourself elected
to Congress – they don’t do anything anyway!
You’d do a lot more good establishing a community garden, with part of
the harvest being donated to a local food bank.
Some people enjoy repairing kids’ bikes and making them available to
children without bikes.
You need a bigger project?
Every community, particularly those outside metropolitan areas, needs
accessible, conveniently scheduled, affordable mass transit. That one will take a while to get off the
ground. Water conservation is fast becoming an issue in need of attention in
many western communities. Maybe you
could form a non-profit with the purpose of making rain barrels inexpensively
available to homeowners, with installation thrown in for free. Educating the masses about the importance of
locally grown food might be just the ticket for civic and church group
meetings. There is no shortage of
opportunities for the person who longs to make a difference.
The thing no one should devote time to is hand wringing. Yes, we all need to be able to vent, to pound
our fists, shake our heads, and stamp our feet.
My point would be, unless that’s leading somewhere, don’t push it to the
point of self-indulgence. Do what you
can do – and there are those who can do quite a bit – and take a moment to be
proud of yourself. The Bible tells us to
choose life. Since there is no one who has come up with
better advice, let that awesome thought guide you.
Choose life.
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