Rachel Fisher, Children’s Ministries Communications Specialist

Isaiah 30:20-21 (ESV)
20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. 21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

Reflection:
The other day I went to run errands after an argument with my mother. As most quarrels go, I now cannot remember why we were fighting…but at the time, I was livid. I slammed the door to my car a little too hard, turned my keys in the ignition, and pulled up my phone to select some angst-fueled, no-one-understands-my-problems noise. What automatically started playing, however, was quite the opposite. All of a sudden, my ears were filled with none other than the peppy, uplifting tune, “Singin’ In The Rain.”

I instinctively pressed pause, unfulfilled by the giddy cheerfulness of this randomly selected option. Remember, I was angry, and if I were to listen to show tunes, my mood would most assuredly alter. Logically, the correct answer should have been an eager, “Yes!” but sadly, at this moment, I hesitated.

Why is it sometimes easier to dwell on the negative?

While there are plenty of horrible things out of our control that do, in fact, warrant negative reactions, I feel that most situations have the possibility of positivity, but only if we are willing to hear Christ’s voice in it all. Thanks to God’s granting of glorious free will, we are all blessed with deciding the outcome of innumerable small choices each and every day: what do I wear, what shall I eat for breakfast, which route should I take to work.

We far too often forget that this incredible gift also applies to how we approach each of these circumstances: will I be patient or disruptive, forgiving or spiteful, happy or frustrated…in the case of my song selection…resentful or releasing?

As I pondered my own decision on music, I took a deep breath and repeated a mantra I lean on in times of clouded judgment: “Don’t drink the poison.”

God is constantly urging us to choose goodness. We see this tug of war play out in all kinds of depictions, whether as a demon and angel egging you on your shoulders or Jiminy Cricket reminding you to always let your conscience be your guide. While our own moral compass may waver, God never does. He is constantly showing us the way, begging us to walk alongside him. When we choose the path of pride, our hearts begin to harden; inch by inch, we can poison our souls with anger, animosity, lies, the list goes on and on.

A petty disagreement with a family member might not seem so impactful at times, but our existences are made up of single, solitary selections that form big, important relationships. We can invest in them with love, or kill them slowly with hate.

Thanks be to God, I listened to Gene Kelly. I did not drink the poison.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, I ask for your forgiveness for the countless times I have gone against your will. You sent your son to die for my sins, and yet, I still act selfishly. Help me to see the world through your eyes: compassionate and full of wonder. Thank you for placing so many amazing people and opportunities in my life. Please give me the strength and gratitude to ensure they are not taken for granted. Amen.