I AM MY CHOICES

Robert Frost in his poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ leads us to the conclusion that by choosing the road less traveled it will make all the difference in our lives. Although I think I understand him well, after seven decades and more of observing the scant representation of humanity that I have been blessed to be surrounded by, the paths we walk in life are as unique and individualistic as finger prints, snowflakes and as we are discovering, the stars in the heavens.

I have no record of how often someone has said to me ‘that’s exactly what I think’ or ‘that’s exactly how I think’ or ‘that’s exactly how I do that’ or ‘that’s exactly how I am’ or ‘ that’s exactly what I believe? I have often thought but never previously expressed, NO YOU DO NOT or NO YOU ARE NOT.

Looking upon the outward appearance we seem to have so very much in common, but as Samuel was instructed when he sought for a righteous king to replace Saul, ‘man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh upon the heart.’ Indeed, we commonly share many physical features which with hurried glances seem to bear a strong resemblance, but on closer examination are universally unique in every way. If we could do a similar examination upon everyman’s heart, mind and soul, my suspicion is that we would be as overwhelmed as we were when the Hubble telescope opened to our vista the individual print of the stars which seem so similar when viewed with our myopic eyes.

As the choices we make hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly divergently accumulate throughout our lives we become increasingly who we and we alone are
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Think of the myriad of interpretations a microscopic examination of the simple responses of some of life’s less meaningful questions, with only a ‘yes’ or ‘no’, would reveal about each of us.

Do you exercise?
Do you have a healthy diet?
Is being blond really more fun?
Is living in a small town better than a big city?

If by some Human Hubble introspection we were able to examine the true meaning behind the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ of each of 10,000 responders I am quite certain we would at the end of the examination find 10,000 human prints as individual as their eye prints.

What then would we expect to find hidden behind the simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ if the questions were of weightier matters?

Do you believe in God?
Are you a person of integrity?
Are you virtuous?
Are you honest?

I think the scale of differentiation by what responders meant by their ‘yes’ or ‘no’ responses would be astronomically astonishing.

I have no doubt that if it were possible to examine all of historical mankind, really understanding each individual’s meaning behind their ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response, we would with this test alone know definitively that none of us are alike nor do we think alike.

In the third chapter of the beautiful little book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price, Abraham receives the understanding of differences which exist in all of God’s creations. Whether speaking of stars in the heaven, sands of the sea or spirits of men, the Lord tells Abraham that none of His creations are the same.

Lest we hasten to use that old ruse of an excuse, ‘ah ha, I am this way because God made me this way.’ We must remind ourselves that Eternal wars have been fought over the Eternal principle of Agency which was to be given to Heavenly Father’s children so that they and they alone would be able to choose what and who they would become

If you were to examine my personal belief on this matter I would have to confess that I believe that this developmental choice making, which would result in me becoming uniquely me, started long before my mortal frame was started and will continue long after the dirt rains down upon my coffin.

I believe that during our supposedly 16 hours each day when we are generally awake and conscious there is no moment when we are not in the choice developmental process. I was about to write 24 hours each day, but then I realized I know very little about the subconscious Id and Ego stuff that happens during those appointed 8 hours of sleep nor whether or not they contribute to what we are becoming.

I believe that the gift of agency is so eternally important that everyone should be deeply concerned when they chose to relinquish the use of this gift to some mind altering substance. I wonder what the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ differentiation score would on that question?
I also believe that in this infinite process of self-becoming that there are no idle choices which have no impact upon the ultimate me.

WHAT I HAVE BEEN, WHAT I AM AND WHAT I AM BECOMING IS THE RESULT OF MY CHOICES!