My Sunday Thought for 04172016: Choices and Consequences

"What you want is irrelevant. What you've chosen is at hand."

-- Mr. Spock, "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country"

Most of us would give our eye teeth to be happier than a pig in shit.  It is an unfortunate reality, however, that most of us feel like we're up to our necks in the smelly excrement, and not in a good way (Is there a good way?).  When we are young we see ourselves facing a long life.  As we get progressively older, our view of time gets progressively shorter.  We never seem to have enough of it.

Nobody ever did, or ever will, escape the consequences of his choices.

-- Alfred A. Montapert, author, philosopher

As I look back at my life I see much that I wish I could go back and change.  As we get older comes this annoying benefit of hindsight.  Unfortunately, we usually find our hindsight is really of little or no benefit to us, at our advanced age the probability of having to make similar decisions is doubtful.  For instance, there are important things I should have said to my friends, family, and those around me, things which seemed of so much less importance than the so much more "important" trivial bullshit I was involved in.  There are also many things and people I should have done before the aches and pains of misspent youth caught up to me.  These are choices made and consequences which followed, consequences not necessarily my own; ripples in the communal pond interacting with all the other ripples from those folks around me, narrowing my six degrees of separation and multiplying unintended consequences of actions which affected other people's lives, including my own.

Like the pig staring at a wristwatch, I had no clue how fast life was speeding up.  By the time I realized it was time to climb out of my own muddy hog waller, I was approaching 55.  I faced the realization that everything I had ever wanted in my life had been deemed irrelevant due to the choices I had made.  As I approach 65 I still have choices, always at hand and much better thought out; the irrelevance in my life is almost non-existent.

One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes... and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.

-- Eleanor Roosevelt

Choices and consequences are a gift or a curse for all sentient life forms.  We stand or fall by the choices we make in our lives.  Shifting blame for consequences does not relieve us of the guilt of our free will, our freedom to choose.  Were you made to do it?  Were you told to do it?  These are not nearly as important as why you did it.  Why you chose to do it?  Just because you can do a thing, does not necessarily follow that you must do that thing.  You have a choice.  If you make a choice to disobey someone for cause, or not to follow the crowd into the devil's workshop, the negative consequences are that you might get fired from your job or lose your friends.  The positive consequences are that you were true to yourself and others, and that you'll find out what kind of friends you have.  If they're screwing around in the devil's workshop and not understanding your choice to abstain, you're probably best shed of them anyways.  Who is more stupid, the person that tells someone to do something stupid, or the person that does it?  Choice and consequence, right and wrong, are the scales of societal and spiritual justice.

It is our choices... that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.

-- J. K. Rowling, author

Making a choice seems rote for most of us.  It is something we do at a semi-conscious level, we do it mindlessly, mechanically, for most of our daily activities.  But, with many of our choices also come a greater responsibility to make the right one.  We need to be considerate of those around us, especially those we love.  We need to try and ensure that our choices do not have a negative impact on others, and try to mitigate that impact if it does.  The best way of mitigating any problem is to be up front about it as soon as possible and preferably before the choice is made.  Our choice to consider the feelings of others can define the kind of person we are, or the kind of person we desire to be.  What other people think of us is secondary to what we think of ourselves, and everything is secondary to why we care.

I've learned in most areas of my life, to bounce heated choices off other people. Co-workers, my agent, my wife, a sponsor, etc. A majority of the time, that keeps me on the right side of things.

-- Kurt Sutter, director, producer, actor

All of this is just something to think about on a Sunday while you ponder your next choice, like whether or not to ponder this.  Ask yourself these questions: Why should you take ownership of your choices and responsibility for the consequences? Why do you care if you make the right choices? Why do you care if it affects the lives of others? Why are your choices and their consequences important to you? I think once you understand the answers to these questions, you might understand how to begin making your life better. Always ask yourself, "Why?" If you can understand why, it becomes easier to understand the who, what, when, where, and how, of choice you make for your life and along your path.

Once you realize that you're in something that you've always wanted and you don't want to lose it, you behave differently. And that means the integrity, the professionalism, and knowing what's right from wrong and still making choices that you probably wouldn't have made.

-- Paul Anka, singer, songwriter

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, and instructor. He is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of the Congregation's official blog site, "The Path," which offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination.