Choosing

AM Psalm 87, 90 • PM Psalm 136
Jer. 13:1-11 • Rom. 6:12-23 • John 8:47-59

Today’s reading in Romans speaks to me loudly about my ability to choose what kind of person I want to be. This reminds me of the familiar Cherokee story about the Grandfather teaching his grandson about the two wolves that live within each of us. The evil/sinful one is anger, envy, greed, injustice, resentment, dishonesty, deceit, self pity, despair, unkindness, hopelessness, hate, etc. The good/righteous wolf is compassion, kindness, justice, gentleness, empathy, generosity, self control, honesty, humility, patience, etc. These two wolves are battling for dominion over us. The wolf we feed is the one who wins the battle.

Paul talks about being slaves of sin. I read somewhere that humans are creatures of habit. We develop habitual behaviors, thoughts and emotions. When those behaviors, thoughts and emotions are dysfunctional and ingrained they do not serve our highest good. We become their slaves. Bad habits cause us to be reactionary. We lose some sense of choice in what we will do, feel or think when we are reactionary. It is like having a default setting. Imagine someone who has an issue with anger. If you are around this person long enough, it is apparent that when faced with something that triggers anger, there is a predictable pattern in his/her thought, behavior and emotion. There no longer seems to be a choice. In the end, when the anger fades this person usually feels guilt and regret which can lead to feelings of hopelessness, despair and shame. It becomes a vicious cycle.

Vicious cycles can be broken! Bad habits can be replaced with good habits. Paul says in Romans 6:14-15: “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!”. We can become slaves to righteousness and ‘the advantage we get is sanctification’. Good habits, healthy habits that serve us well, are those that bring us into right relationship with God and with our fellow human beings. Habits, whether good or bad, become who we are. The wolf we feed is the one who wins!

Written by Deborah Griffin

...who sorely misses handshakes and hugs and is fervently hoping, wishing and praying for an end to the pandemic.