Rule? | Ok, Let’s Not Call It A Rule
Now, this may sound harsh when you are told that there are no choices in many matters, and we just have to go on and move forward. The element of choice appears to be a gift, but in many ways, it turns out to be a curse that is well-packaged and perfume-sprayed. And that’s the kindest definition for choice.
I am not against choice, but where the choice is applied. Our parents' generations and the ones before seem to have got it right about choice, but the current generation is all messed up about choice. And that’s why we see a generation that does not know genders. Anyway, we digressed. Let’s get back on topic.
Choice is a gift when we know how to use it. Otherwise, it might as well not have entered our lives. What am I talking about?
Let’s see.
Having A Choice Is Not A Choice
The earlier generations knew where choice came into play and where it should be kept out. That’s why we saw an extremely well-oiled system running the world order, and therefore, great economic progress. But this gave rise to the cliché – good times lead to weak men.
The generation that was the recipient of this well-run world order did not have much to do and thus started the ‘whiling away’ by expressing choices in areas that didn’t have any. For example, when it comes to God, there simply is no choice. We pray, we gain spiritual strength, and we move forward. However, this has changed today. God is a choice. Atheism is a choice. Obviously, a generation that has grown up assuming ‘God is a choice’ wouldn’t understand what a fragile life he/she is living. In fact, for them, it feels like a constraint to say that there is no choice around God. That is the problem.
Choices were to be applied to the bad side of life, while the good side of life was to be followed without changes. I mean, why would you change the good side that works so well? God works. Every. Single. Time. Why would you change that? On the contrary, you were to choose drugs or no drugs, alcohol or no alcohol, smoking or no smoking, and many more areas that negatively hurt not only our soul but also our physical body. This is where choices were supposed to be. So, even if someone fell into those traps, they could choose to come out of them. But sadly, that’s the opposite of what we see in the world today. Cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs are normal, while God is a choice.
When Choice Is Taken Out | Baptism By Fire Follows
Growing up, I had no choice around studies. I had to study. What was the outcome? I was one of the many successful engineers graduating from college; I topped my class, in fact. The same logic applied to work – no choice. I had no choice but to work. Result? I was one of the top-performing employees. Then came the choice. I read a book (in fact, multiple books) on the law of attraction. And this coincided with my moving away from God. And what happened?
This is what happened. The Law of Attraction gave me the illusion that I could take it easy on the physical work and focus more on the mental state. Sounded interesting back then. After all, why work hard when I can just align myself with all the goodies of the universe? But the underlying sinister plot was why God, when I can just align with Him and snatch the goodies out from Him? Isn’t that what the law of attraction teaches? Align, and all that you want will flow to you? Yes, that’s exactly what it teaches. And that made me a lazy, passionless, criticism-avoiding, pain-detesting, hoping-for-a-better-tomorrow, easy-success-seeking moron. What’s more, I had moved far from God, too.
This is what choosing the wrong thing does. Working hard and staying God fearing are not choices? These are realities that everyone needs to accept. The challenge in life is not to make the path smooth (by the way, a smooth path was never promised) but to make ourselves so strong that we are more rugged and hardened than the path itself. Isn’t that what life should be teaching us? How to be tough? When we veer from this “no choice” journey to having choices, we end up confused about genders. And not to mention fragile egos that get pulverized when people don’t dance to our tune.
Is Choice Good?
The answer is yes, but with a caveat. Choices are good only at places where we need to improve. Not where we have to follow the grind and become stronger. You don’t choose away gym or aerobic and hope to become muscular. You don’t choose away work and expect to feel accomplished. You don’t choose away from ‘making a difference’ and expect to be successful. You don’t choose away God and expect life to be enriched, full of passion, exciting, and prosperous.
Choice in good places is bad. Choice in bad places is good.
Read that once more till you get it. If you still have doubts, the only thing that I would advise you is to go ask God. He is real, and He answers. He will guide you to the truth, because He is the way, the truth, and the life.
I hope you find your truth and know that there is no choice around the truth!
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