What Will We Do?

We face choices everyday, they can be small simple choices or deep commitments. They come in all forms, from what we view to be insignificant to the profound. What do we do when we are faced with choices? What do those choices say about who we are, and who is influenced by them?

I saw this as important before, but now I see it with such clarity. We move through our daily lives robotically, focused on the immediate issues of daily living, oblivious to the doors that are constantly opening and closing around us. Doors of opportunity, doors of choice.

Imagine a game show not called, "Windows of Opportunity ", but "Doors of Opportunity". You as the contestant are sitting in a chair watching the rotating doors spinning around you slowly, at first. There is a studio filled with an audience, watching, wondering, and learning from your choices. Would you think more carefully as each door spun before you, or would you nonchalantly select a door, and ride the chair through waiting for the next selection of doors? The choices are easy ones at first, they always are, but as the game progresses the doors move more quickly and the choices become more difficult.

You begin to see how you have a created a pattern in your selections, that you were not even aware of. Your choices have led to a path of limited future choices and the game ends. A curtain opens at the end of your game and you see the result of your choices. You see the rippling effect and how it has impacted those people in your close circle as well as people you barely recognize, strangers as well as the casual acquaintance. The audience sound effects begin to fill the stage and you hear the commits, and sighs, or cheers.

You are left feeling either shocked, guilt ridden, or pleased.

There is always someone watching, observing, learning, and being affected by the choices we make everyday. When we begin to realize that we, as individuals have a true choice to simply "do good", "do no harm", " be kind", in our everyday walk, perhaps we will begin to take the time to choose more carefully, and thoughtfully.