How do we go about making spiritually grounded choices? It goes without saying that some are more difficult to make than others and no template for decision-making can cover every eventuality. But a broad set of guidelines can be helpful.
First, recognize the differing character of decisions.
Some are inconsequential, everyday decisions that are domestic in nature and rarely have significance beyond the moment: a choice of breakfast food, the clothing we choose to wear for the day, the place we buy fuel for the car.
Some are moral choices. These have significant consequences and, more often than not, we know what needs to be done.
Others are life-choices: Choices that within broad moral guidelines range widely, but have the power to shape the way we live for months, years, decades — or for a lifetime: decisions about life-partners, education, and jobs.
Here I think that the guidelines Ignatius of Loyola offered are hard to improve upon. Will the decisions you make draw you more closely to God and others in love? Or will it drive you away from God and others?
The guidelines he offers have nothing to do with whether the decisions are easy or hard to make; whether they are enjoyable or challenging — they are measured by their spiritual consequences.
This was such a timely article for me! I have so many decisions to make and reading this was like taking a deep breath! It was such a good reminder that our guidelines should focus on the spiritual consequences. Thanks!
God chose Jesus to be born in a stable or manger. I guess the most we think about that issue is when singing Away In A Manger at Christmas. This is God we are talking about. God the Father and God the Son. Of all places in a manger! Were the oxen really quieted at the sight of Jesus? Did the straw feel soft to Mary? The shepherds sure made a significant choice after the spectacular scene with sky full of angels proclaiming peace, good will to all because the Saviour had been born in Bethlehem. They came running to the manger and then chose to go out and tell the good news to all they could find. I don’t know if the wise men found Jesus at the manger or in a house later but they made a choice to ride a lengthy distance to get to baby Jesus and present their gifts and then to obey God and go back another way. They could have ignored the sign in the sky and just stayed home. Joseph made his choice when God spoke to him in a dream and took Mary as his wife and then made several other choices after receiving dreams.
Scriptures are filled with God’s revelations and people’s choices. I think the same is happening today. God is still revealing and we are still making choices. There is no place on earth where the voice of the Lord is not heard. Day unto day His voice is heard. We may be dull of heart by the things of the world crushing down our spirit but then we have made that choice to let the things of the world trample out the precious seed given to us.
Choice. We all have choice. And we all have consequences from our choices. Heaven will reveal them all.