Thursday March 3, 2022 Katherine Drexel
Today, Moses exhorts the Israelites to ‘choose life’. That may seem like a silly thing to say, “choose life”, but there is more to it than meets the eye. This not a matter of eating today to nourish yourself so as not to die. No, this is a matter of always being mindful of how what we do either makes life better or worse for ourselves and just as importantly, for others. Could I have taken the bus today instead of the car? Did I hold open a door or pick up a dropped package? Did I offer to spend an hour with an elderly person so their caretaker son or daughter could have a respite? Did I bite my tongue and not throw gas on an argument? Did I tell my spouse/partner, children, parents, “I love you” in both word and deed? We have countless choices to make daily that affect the lives of others. Choose life. The last two years have been tough for me. My interactions with others have been restricted to mostly my husband. The opportunities to be a “do gooder” have been limited. In many ways it is a greater challenge to be thoughtful and caring when the only person around is always around. It has been too easy to just be my usual selfish self. This Lenten season is a chance for me to remember that just because he is under foot, doesn’t mean I can take him for granted. There may come a time when he is not here. I’m going to choose life today, and hopefully every day in our future.