Choices

“We are who we choose to be.�

Green Goblin from Spiderman

There seems to be an inordinate amount of wisdom spouted in the Spiderman movies. Wonder what they’ll come up with next summer for Spiderman 3?

Anyway, this line by the Green Goblin captures what I’ve been pondering over the past week. I read an article on Monday at www.boundless.org, a Christian webzine aimed at college undergrads, and the writer echoed similar sentiments.

Basically, the choices we make shape us into the people we are.

Of course, when that line was said in the movie, Spiderman faced a choice between saving a cable car full of school children and the love of his life, Mary Jane Watson.

I doubt anyone of us will find ourselves in similar situations, although you never know just when you might have to summon up your super-strength and amazing agility to save a person from certain death.

You never know.

Anyway, the wisdom expressed by the Green Goblin is perhaps more relevant in the context of daily living. It is easier to make a one time decision to act nobly and be self-sacrificial, especially with the prospect of being feted for heroism and what fame and riches might come with it, than it is on a regular basis in the myriad, comparatively little decisions of daily life.

Sure. I’d sacrifice myself to save my love any second of any minute of any hour of any day of any week of any month of any year.

But would I be willing to move to the back of the bus, without the bus driver hollering at me, every time I step on the bus every day?

I’d save both my mother and my wife at the same time if they ever found themselves drowning at the same time, unlikely as that will ever be.

But would I swallow my pride and annoyance each time someone behaves in a way or does something that irks me no end and instead act in love towards the person everyday?

I’ll go to church every Sunday and shout out each praise and worship song at the top of my voice, jump and down to show how exuberantly I love God and pray so hard during the service.

But would I praise my Lord every moment every day less by my words and more by loving action?

Would I sing to Him in the darkest moments and hours of my life, and like Job, still be able to bless His name?

Would I stave off every temptation, every distraction, and in the quiet spaces of time every day choose to seek His face in prayer, rather than while the time away in fruitless pursuits?

Would I seek to spend enough time preparing lessons that are infinitely interesting and helpful to my students?

Would I avail myself always to be a support in times of need for my family, my friends and my students?

Would I seek to honour and please my God in each and every choice I have to make, the littlest ones and the biggest ones?

I guess it all depends on who I want to be.

“For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be firstborn among many brothers�

Romans 8:29

I decided who I want to be four years ago on 26th August 2001. And every decision since then has been made with the express purpose of becoming more like Him everyday.

Wait. I lie. Not every decision. I have made countless bad decisions in the past, I’ve made some today and I will continue to make them in future.

But I will try my best.

That’s why we or at least poor, fallible I need His grace.

That’s why His steadfast love endures forever, I guess.

I know what choices I’ll be making. I know who I want to be.

Do you?