Choosing Life

Sunday's assigned Old Testament reading was Deuteronomy 30:15-20. My daughter was the reader for the 8:30 service. How wonderful to hear her read: "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live" (30:19). For some reason, it is one of my favorite verses of scripture. In large measure, I imagine that is because I am convinced that "choosing life" means much more than choosing to keep a heart beat going. Know what I mean? It means more than not dying.

 

After all, we all know lots of people (or at least a couple) who are among the "walking (or living) dead." People who, for any number of reasons, are not truly living - instead are simply surviving. People who are victims of violence or abuse or addiction. People controlled by fear or hate or prejudice. People who do not have joy or have never known love. People who spend time living with regret or shame. People who spend their lives holding a grudge and waiting for someone to apologize, rather than just giving forgiveness and getting on with living.

 

I have been among those people from time to time, and I suspect you have been, too.

 

When asked what surprises him most about humanity, the Dalai Lama replied “Man (sic) surprises me most about humanity. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”

 

It is important…I believe that it is vitally important to remember that this word that Moses speaks “choose life, so that you and your descendants may live,” is spoken not to an individual – but to the whole community of people who are gathered and are awaiting new life in the Promised Land.

 

What that means, is that life…real life (Promised Land life)…cannot be had in isolation. This is a harsh word for our consumeristic culture which functions with the mindset, “as long as I am happy eating milk and honey – I do not care whether or not you have enough.” That is not life.

 

Life…real life…cannot be had for one when there is suffering of another (as though I do not have responsibility for you…all that matters is my own satisfaction).

 

Life…real life…cannot be had for any when others live in fear, or know violence, or war. Life means relationship and concern and compassion and “plenty” for all.

Life…real life…means joy and peace and dancing and rough places plain and the end of hate, and it can only be had, when it is had by all.

 

“I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life.”