"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."

The lifestyle options we have can be boiled down into two alternatives: (1) I can live for myself (selfishness) or (2) I can live the way God intended for me to live. The clearest contrast of these two lifestyles in found in the Bible:

"Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feel the compulsion of selfishness...

It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magi-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community; I could go on.

But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an ideal in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives." (Gal. 5:16, 19-23,25 from THE MESSAGE)

That's a lot to think about this week. Which way will you choose?

Until next week...

FOL#78