CROSSROADS

"To be or not to be.. That is the question" So goes the famous shakespearian line. Hmm. Decisions, decisions. In life, we can never escape choices. Every waking moment is full of decisions to make. From the trivial to the life-changing.. From the mundane to the totally earth-shaking ones. Choices are all around us.

Some choices are "easy" because there are no right or wrong decisions. Like what color of shirt to wear, or what route to take going to work, or what brand of cereal to eat for breakfast. We are almost not aware of our decisions here because our choices in these matters do not affect our life in major ways. [note: a few people *do* have a difficult time choosing their cereal brands or their attire for the day - probably because of the sheer number of choices. But this is more an exception rather than the rule]

But not all "easy" decisions are trivial. Sometimes, we are able to choose immediately simply because there are no other options available to us. A girl can easily fall for a guy if he's her only suitor. A person will probably take a so-so job offer if it's the only company willing to hire him. These "choices" are the ones that leave a semi-bitter taste in the mouth. Because they are not actually *our* decisions to make.. Rather, circumstances help to force our hand into taking the only available option.

And then there are *the* choices. The ones that lie solely in our hands. Whose consequences may change the course of our lives. And the ones that require every ounce of our mind/heart/soul to make. Built in every one of us is a sensor that recognizes these 'earth-shaking' decisions. And it causes us to stop and think. And think. And think.. Before we even make a step towards choosing our path.

We consider a myriad factors. We think about morals - what is right and wrong. We determine whether it will make us comfortable or uneasy. We weigh our priorities.. and ask ourselves the tradeoffs we are willing to take. We try to see a bit farther into the future.. to consider possible consequences of our actions.. and in case of problems, possible solutions and ways of escape. Bottom line: when making these decisions, our mind goes into hyperdrive.

We all come to crossroads in our lives, at one point or another. A time of confusion, uncertainty and yes, sometimes fear and anxiety. Like this New Year. A moment of crossing the threshold between the past and the future. Should we get rid of the old, in order to usher in the new? Do we continue to hope for a better life in this country or should we seek greener pastures? What changes should we make in our lives and in our families? Hmm. These are just some questions that make us think.. and sometimes, worry. Questions that make us aware of the crossroads in our lives.

But these are CROSSroads. That realization alone should point to us where to go. And this New Year, perhaps we can all profit from this advice: the best way to make those life-changing decisions is to lay everything at the foot of His cross..where hopefully, the mind, heart and spirit will see, not darkness or confusion, but His Guiding Light.