perspective – Robin Lewis – Speaker / Coach

Choices. Yes, they say we make about 3,000 a day. Remember the third Indiana Jones movie, where he and his father, played by Sean Connery, have been searching for the cup of Christ? He finds many cups guarded by a knight who is centuries old and the knight’s only advice to him in choosing which one is the genuine article is to choose well. The knight says that only the real cup of Christ gives life. Any other will take it from you.

We don’t think of our day to day choices being that impactful, but they are.

God was speaking to the Israelite people in Deuteronomy 30:15 and reminded them of their choice:
“Today I place before you life and death. Oh, that you would choose life!”

And Jesus said in John 10, “I have come to give you life, and life abundant!”

God, as a loving Father, wants the best for us, but has gifted us with the ability and right to choose whether we want His love and blessings or not. I spoke to a group yesterday about this same idea of choosing life. The Compassionate Friends organization is a support group for parents who have experienced the death of a child. They meet to encourage, cry, laugh, and listen. These are people who need to be encouraged to continually choose a positive life for themselves in their perspective and outlook. While we may wish it were different, life is never safe and comfortable, and it’s how we choose to see our lives that matters. I encouraged them to remember that their lives have great purpose and affect those around them, and they get to embrace and determine how they will live out the one life they are given.

Victor Frankl wrote that the only thing no one can ever take away from you is your ability to choose how you will respond in any given situation. He was a prisoner in a Nazi Camp who spoke encouragement and words of life to the others with him. Can we learn from his experience?

Our daily choices matter. Even our little, insignificant decisions about whether to eat right or floss our teeth can impact our future. Someone said that if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there. Too many of us ramble on in life hoping to reach some pleasant destination without considering the impact our choices have on ourselves and others. Our choices form habits and habits form a life. What we settle upon and commit ourselves to may not take us where we want to go.

Truth: You are this amazing, one-of-a-kind, created-on-purpose person. You are God’s idea and made in His image. A person of authority, you have “eternity in your heart” and immeasurable value in the Father’s eyes. Be emboldened to think of your life in a higher way and make choices that reflect your true identity and value, whether that’s ordering the salad or going back to school to earn the degree that helps you towards living out your dreams. Every courageous, loving, and life-filled choice leads to another.

“Today I place before you life (good choices that build life and love) and death (bad choices that take it from you). Oh, that you would choose life – the abundant way I have provided!”

You are so loved. You matter. The rest of us need what you bring. Really.

Loads of Grace for this adventurous journey! Live it fully!

Robin

From the desk by the window where the sun is shining and I feel eternity in my heart urging me to go make the biggest difference I can.