It
is clear that one of the essential duties of a parent is to teach
their children that life is a test. Not a test of how much money you
can make or any like thing, but a test of character; most
essentially, therefore, children must be taught that character
building is quintessentially a matter of making good choices.
In
this light the answer to the above question becomes painfully
obvious. Since virtually all of life involves some kind of choice –
even that as to attitude – “eternal concerns” are pervasive. At
first glance, we may consider routine chores as being inapplicable to
considerations of faith in God. But when we consider that the state
of mind regnant during our exercise of routine duties is primarily a
matter of choice, then even such things as taking out the garbage or
filling our gas tank can have eternal significance.
Now
in matters of choice it becomes clear that we make those choices
within our best lights. We know that many others do the same. Thus a
strong faith in God is necessary since we cannot know with assurance
the final outcome of our choices. We must act within our best lights
and pray that providence proactive within history will make up now or
eventually for our inevitable limitations in understanding and
actions.
If
tomorrow I am injured in an accident and become paraplegic a great
choice will confront me – that of attitude. If tomorrow I must
take out the trash at work, likewise my principal duty will be the
assumption of a grateful servant's attitude. If I am called upon to
do or refrain from doing acts of any nature, I must trust God that my
choices in the last analysis will be right or at least redeemable by
his grace.
Because
of its pervasiveness one is tempted to conclude that one's assignment
to make countless choices is a curse. Yet we know that choice making
gets to the very core of what humanity is all about. When God
lovingly gave us free choice, he with a servant's heart shared with
us eternal hope and faith. It is up to us not to make him out to be a
fool.
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