“We are not living in a world where all roads are radii of a circle and where all, if followed long enough, will therefore draw gradually nearer and finally meet at the centre: rather in a world where every road, after a few miles, forks into two, and each of those into two again, and at each fork, you must make a decision.”  C. S. Lewis

While on vacation these past couple weeks, I came to the conclusion that I am free to make choices, because God made me that way.  He didn’t make cookie cutter versions of each of us.  We all have an inner voice which guides us one way or the other.  That voice is called conscience and seems to have been erased over the past few years as non-existent or foolishness.

As young men and women graduate, they’re making choices that will affect their future.  They’re choosing a career path, education options, who to associate with, whether religion is relevant, living off their parents or deciding it’s time to fly. When we choose a spouse, we have to make bigger decisions.  When we start a family, the choices are no longer ours alone.  When you reach old age, you think you’ve finished making choices, but not so.

For the past few months, I’ve been wallowing in sadness caused by the loss of several of my dear friends.  I’ve been witness to the results of aging and the disabilities it causes.  I’ve struggled with my own aging process.  I’ve been searching for peace in retirement, as I feel I still need to work.  In other words – I’ve been choosing to be depressed.

I know in time there will be healing from all the death surrounding me.  I also know that those who have passed are already in heaven waiting for my arrival.  The process of death is not what makes a Christian sad, it’s the grieving process that follows which can disable us.

So what do we choose?  Do we continue to feel sorry for ourselves and live in darkness for the rest of our days, or do we find joy in looking for ways to be happy? It shouldn’t be a difficult choice.  The toughest choice ever, was made over two thousand years ago, when God chose to send His Son to the world, to be crucified, suffer death and placed in a tomb. The grief was tremendous, but the joy was insurmountable on Easter morning when Jesus conquered death for all.

I know God still has plans for me.  I’m not sure what they are, but I am confident that they are going to be for my good and the good of others.  It’s time to choose happiness!