Some decisions are so simple. Should I rob this bank to help the nuns keep the school open? NO. Should I shop-lift what I want but can't afford? NO. Should I lie on my resume? NO. Should I spend the rent money on booze and porn? NO
But other things are less clear-cut. What counts as a "small lie"? What is a "white lie"? Is it wrong to tell the truth in the most hurtful way possible?
And even more challenging are the choices we must make that have no clear moral component: which college should I attend? which house should we be buy? should I look for a new job? should we have a baby and if so when? can we afford to retire?
There have been studies about the number of decisions researchers believe are made by an individual's brain each day (35,000 which seems to include the decision to step here or to calm our breathing) and research on "decision fatigue" observed the affects of fatigue and loss of energy on quality of decisions. (Surely the number of decisions we can manage must be about to exceed our body's capacity between advertising, 24-hour cable news, the shopping channel and the research capability of the internet!)
I think one thing that helps is keeping focused on what we can do next rather than getting bogged down in trying to NOT do things that distract us from living well. We know that trying to "not do" something which harms us or society is much more difficult than keeping busy with tasks that give us a sense of purpose or worth. And one other thing has helped me: learning to decide not to decide. I have found that many things I wrestled with actually worked themselves out better if I stepped back, confident that I had not been elected Dictator of the World.
And what roll does God play in all this? For one thing the Bible tells us that God knows us so well He knows how many hairs are on our heads,* so I believe it is quite appropriate to take all our concerns and decisions to God. Scripture has quite a bit to say about discernment, the process of seeking to make a decision that is pleasing to God. And, when we make an error, God does not leave us hanging by a thread, but uses such things as teachable moments that unfold under God's perfect wisdom and power to help us move head, trusting God even more for His constant care of us.
* Luke 12:7 - Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
But other things are less clear-cut. What counts as a "small lie"? What is a "white lie"? Is it wrong to tell the truth in the most hurtful way possible?
And even more challenging are the choices we must make that have no clear moral component: which college should I attend? which house should we be buy? should I look for a new job? should we have a baby and if so when? can we afford to retire?
There have been studies about the number of decisions researchers believe are made by an individual's brain each day (35,000 which seems to include the decision to step here or to calm our breathing) and research on "decision fatigue" observed the affects of fatigue and loss of energy on quality of decisions. (Surely the number of decisions we can manage must be about to exceed our body's capacity between advertising, 24-hour cable news, the shopping channel and the research capability of the internet!)
I think one thing that helps is keeping focused on what we can do next rather than getting bogged down in trying to NOT do things that distract us from living well. We know that trying to "not do" something which harms us or society is much more difficult than keeping busy with tasks that give us a sense of purpose or worth. And one other thing has helped me: learning to decide not to decide. I have found that many things I wrestled with actually worked themselves out better if I stepped back, confident that I had not been elected Dictator of the World.
And what roll does God play in all this? For one thing the Bible tells us that God knows us so well He knows how many hairs are on our heads,* so I believe it is quite appropriate to take all our concerns and decisions to God. Scripture has quite a bit to say about discernment, the process of seeking to make a decision that is pleasing to God. And, when we make an error, God does not leave us hanging by a thread, but uses such things as teachable moments that unfold under God's perfect wisdom and power to help us move head, trusting God even more for His constant care of us.
* Luke 12:7 - Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
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