The Choice is Yours
Daily Passage
Reflections
At first reading of this passage from Proverbs, Chapter 7, I must honestly say, I feel removed from the language and the topic. But, with the heart of a discoverer, I press the words for meaning and call to my previous knowledge of this ancient text. Written so very long ago by the hands of Hebrew scholars, of course it will take some work on my part to find some clarity here, some golden nugget for my work.
What I know about this book is that is in the collection of work referred to as the Wisdom literature of the Hebrews and that, as studied from an anthropological approach, was written by several and is steeped in the traditions of the Near East. The wise King Solomon as presented in earlier passages (The book of Kings) here becomes the figure head, a father speaking to his son, a king to his people. In the day, so very long ago, the holy men or sages were viewed as fathers as they relayed knowledge to their students, their sons. Much of their teachings were on how to behave in the world and created or maintained cultural values.
Literarily, in this light, this passage opens up to me. I read it figuratively and am able to glean much. A king to his son at once becomes someone who is older and wiser speaking to their beloved child, someone whom they love. I love this choice of characterization the writer makes. Not a sage to a student, but this successful character known for their wisdom and power to a beloved child. This really underscores the thought that it is in love that these words of wisdom are spoken and actually a cultural model: it is the parent who is expected to be the first to help shape the social understandings and obligations of their children. The whole passage is allegorical. The women in the passage, are allegorical. They are beautiful representations personified here, the opposing choices we have before us in life. Lady Wisdom is to be seen here as a beloved sister, and a strange and lustful woman is the one with the flattering words. Like these women in this book, the choices we have to make are always standing along the road on every journey we take. (I suddenly feel the desire to paint this image or write a poem - but the task of blogging is before me now and then the commitments to exercise, and then the obligations of my work day which starts soon too - maybe this weekend).
Not too long ago, I was Reading Thich Nhat Hanh’s book The Art of Communicating. In this text, I was suddenly and deeply struck by the idea that with every word we speak or action we take, we are making a choice: to either speak and act in love or to speak and act out of fear. He talks about how everything that we take into our bodies, not only food, but everything: all the images we see on the news, or the billboards we drive past, the words of our friends, co-workers, strangers, all are either nourishment or poison. And, in the same way, what we choice to let out into the world either nourishes those around us or poisins them.
The writer of Proverbs 7 communicates the same idea. In this life, we make choices. Many of us are able to enjoy our freedoms and make a lot of choices. We choose what we eat, what we wear, where we work, where we live. We choose to associate with people and events. All of our associations affect us either as nourishments or toxins, and moment by moment, they either help us or harm us.
The text is instruction passed down through centuries, age-old truths that still ring true today because our experience, the human experience, is the same. And so beside the fact that we have choices, what else does this text reveal? It reveals, that sometimes the choice that is not the best one to make, is often clothed in fine attire and smells so very enticing. The quote for the day is from Shakespeares, The Merchant of Venice. (I love this play). We get the adage from this play, “All that glitters is not gold.” (Did you know that was Shakespeare?) In this play, Portia has many suitors. Her father set up a game of choice and whichever suitor makes the right choice, wins Portia’s hand in marriage. In this case, the correct choice, is not the shiniest one. (Oh my - this takes my mind to so much more to say - because all of my choices lead me to a grand and golden and shiny existence, and I don’t want to give the wrong impression here that we should avoid gold and choose lead in our lives - ironically we know that lead is toxic . . . Sigh - I need to move on - The day is waking and I must draw to a close). So I will just repeat again with the intention not to give the wrong ideas, but to iterate this truth that is mirrored in the play, and suggested in Proverbs 7, and is so often the case is our day to day existence: the correct choice, is not always - at least initially - the shiniest one and is sometimes hard to make. There is a desire trap that we have to acknowledge.
And so, when walking, carrying out the day to day, follow the path that is right for you. Avoid the momentary and fleeting and flattering desire traps. Know that this path that you “follow” is created by you with each daily choice you make and action you take. Choose. Choose well. Choose for yourself, and for your well being. Try hard to make every word you say and action you take be nourishing to yourself and to those around you. Diligently set boundaries that will only allow that into your life that nourishes. Commit with each step to trust in the advise of a king, a father, a friend, and to celebrate that the Wisdom in your life loves you like a sister and is always there for you as you take the big steps and the small in your journey which is your life.
Choose
“All that glisters is not gold—
Often have you heard that told.
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold.
Gilded tombs do worms enfold.
Had you been as wise as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgment old,
Your answer had not been inscrolled.
Fare you well. Your suit is cold—
William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, Act 2, Scene 7
Eight Affirmations of Gratitude
I am grateful for choice.
I am truly thankful for my ability to choose well.
I am so very thankful for all of the choices that I have made in my life that have led me to this perfect place I now enjoy.
I am thankful that I never regret the choices I make when I choose to follow my heart.
An give thanks for my intuition that guides me and my own personal clarity of mind that I have to make the right choices.
I am thankful for all of the good choices those around me make.
I am thankful for the freedom of choice.
I am grateful that in choosing to give love each day, I (simultaneously) am choosing to receive love.
Questions to Consider
What are all the choices that I have made that have led to my present happiness?
What are the most difficult choices I have had to make and why were they so difficult?
What are the choices that I am being offered now, and how will I respond?
Blessings
Thank you for joining me today. I hope you have a beautiful day. May you choose to give and receive the nourishing love that brings happiness and peace and joy moment by moment. Namaste.