Decisions

The night was a dozy.  There were a couple of things that really shocked me.  One of them was Australian story.
I do like to watch that show.  I was surprised they could keep coming up with people to talk to and they can.  Last night was about amputees.  They interviewed a number of them.  Basically, they got people’s story who then answered questions sent in.
There was one person that totally blew me away.  I admit I walked away from the tv saying (and I do not often talk to the tv) “I don’t want to hear it”.  Like I think most these days I think nothing shocks.  But this did.  They were the way they were because it was self-inflicted.  Others had accidents or were born that way.  Not that person.  Turned my tummy.
But one thing it has done, is made me reflect big time.  It is all about judging another.  Setting myself up.  I have had to ask myself what gives me that right? If life were different that could be me.  I had no control over who I was born.  Also I have had to ask myself, because I may have done things that are less abhorrent in societies eyes or things even condoned and encouraged by society does that make me a better person?
My answer is no but the shock remains.  A rash decision altered the course of not only their lives, but the lives of others.
One of the bottom lines for me is that all actions have consequences.  Some are really good and the persons life and the lives of many others are changed for the better and a ripple effect is set in motion.  Some to me are gob smackingly bad.  A ripple effect is set in motion by them also.  But each one affected must come to grips with it, and while their actions may be different to what the future looked to hold, their response will always remain theirs alone.
It is common these days to attempt to blame everyone else for our actions. “You made me do this because I am disadvantaged or poor or discriminated against.”  I do think all those things need to be corrected, but everyone is responsible for their own actions.
I am not one to seek out difficulties for myself. I work to avoid them.  I cross each bridge as I come to it.  But sometimes they present themselves and my response will always indicate who I am.  This to me was a bridge too far.  Yet for me it was all about how I responded.  How they responded mattered, but that was their domain.  How I responded was mine.
My first response was to recoil.  Eventually though I was willing to investigate the contents of the bottle I had shut tight.  I had to be willing to examine and acknowledge things in the light.  As difficult as that was it was, to me it was better than having it fester to remain forever a closed door. (now there’s some mixed metaphors)
Openness to me will always lead to vulnerability but it is the only way to freedom.  As is my custom I pray about such things and consider them.  I resolved it in my mind acknowledging that it matters not if I am the best or worst person in the world.  Like everyone in the population of several billion people, I am a person in the world.  Everyone walks their own road.  I have decisions to make.  There will always be consequences.  I want to make right decisions.