Choice

As a child, one may fall from a bicycle, skin a knee, perhaps some blood, some pain, bandage, then the child moves on to the next thing that draws his or her attention.

As a teenager, one may rebel against society for many different reasons, perhaps just to rebel, commit a somewhat harmless crime such as vandalism, perhaps worse. The teenager either feels pride or shame in the deed, setting forth on the course of their life they have chosen. Or, one may dwell on learning and education, not participating in acts of degradation.

As a young adult, one may decide to put away childish or rebellious things and seek higher learning in college to obtain a degree and make a better life. Another young adult may decide to continue with a life of petty crime, or worse, and end up in jail or prison. Such a person may find themselves in a gang or homeless, living in a gutter or alley, stealing anything they are able to steal.

What is the difference in the decisions of these people? A stable household with a caring mother and father seems to make somewhat of a difference, but not for each youth. I have known those who grew up in what seemed to be the perfect home, yet turned to a life of violence and crime or total listlessness. They prefer to party their lives away each night, drinking to oblivion.

An unstable household certainly matters in the decisions of the youth. Perhaps it is a single parent upbringing or a mother and father fighting constantly that drives a youth to their goal. I have seen such teenagers of all races overcome this obstacle and go on to make a great success of them. I have seen others from the same background turn to alcohol, and worse, seeking revenge for what they feel has been a misguided life.

Many youth find solace in religion. They feel drawn toward a certain faith and follow that faith’s creed with a strong belief. They gain a bit of wisdom and with the guidance of a pastor or counselor. They go from there to perhaps find a wonderful partner for life and live in a style accustomed to the population assumed by a large part of our world’s population.

Sadly, there are people who disaster had picked out for heartbreak. One set of parents’ discover one of their children has died in war. One family is torn apart by the malicious taking of a life in their family by a murderer. One family is torn apart by the killing of a person they love by a drunken driver.

One family may be maligned by a genetic disease that continues to occur in their bloodline. The list goes on and on.

Some of these things are certainly brought about by decisions we each make. Some of these things seem to be brought about to test our faith in human life. For those who believe in an Almighty Creator, this brings forth a different test of faith. Some of these things seem to have no answer.

There are those who would have us believe in reincarnation. Without going into the myriad of discussions this subject could bring about, they tell us when each person dies, his or her soul chooses the next life in which it wants to be reborn. There are many theoretical reasons for this. The reason most widely accepted is that our soul chooses a life that will bring about lessons we need to learn for enlightenment.

We humans, left to our choices in life, given free will, decide one thing after another every single day that changes our lives. One decision may seem small, as if nothing at all, but it could be the most important one we make. One decision make seem large, consuming us, when it may actually be the least of our worries.

After all is said and done, the only thing I know for sure is that every second we live depends upon a choice.