A kid made a stupid choice this morning. He decided to rob the fireworks tent that our campus ministry is working. He rose up early, about 4am, and left his house and crossed a highway and slid under our tent flap and began to fill his dark blue backpack with explosives. He didn’t know that we had motion detectors on the tables. He didn’t realize that their alarms were sounding in our ears as we slept in the camper. He had no idea that we would rise up to see what was going on. But, we did and we rose and turned on the lights and he was terrified. It cost him some flesh because he tore his clothing on the fence when he slithered hurriedly out of the tent and into the woods. And it cost him a nice new backpack because he left it behind, stuffed full of fireworks. It was a stupid choice. Actually, it was series of stupid, foolish choices.

That kid was no more foolish than I am. I get up every morning and make a series of stupid choices on most days. I don’t choose my attitude very well. I don’t acknowledge my Creator or thank Him for the rest that I’ve received. I don’t make Him a part of my thought process, unless I’m sick or in need. I put God on the back burner and get on with life. Stupid choice.

Every breath that I breathe comes from Him. Every fiber of my being was designed and created by Him. Every talent and ability and all the energy and the insight at my disposal are gifts from Him. And I would live my life sliding under the fence of His care and taking from His world what I desire and leaving it all the worse because of it. But, occasionally, thankfully, He turns the light of His Word on in my heart and I am caught in the act and I correct my path accordingly; just like our young friend this morning. I am left bloodied and humiliated but wiser for my pain. I will do my best to make wiser choices.

“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” Joshua 24.15b