The “Deciding” Time

We’ve all lived with a time of making decisions, but it’s tough making the best choice. Supposedly we’ve examined all the options, and it’s now time to make a decision. But, I ask you to pause a moment. Ask yourself this important question:

Have I considered all my options?

To the inquisitive mind, the obvious answer is No! There is no end to the options we could have if this or that were added or subtracted from the equation.

Perhaps the problem is not in the “deciding” time, rather, it’s in understanding our options better.

For the past few weeks, I’ve agonized over the choice of Medicare! Wait till you reach 65 and tell me then what you felt about this time of life! To say the least, it’s a confusing and uncertain time. My options are unique to my life, and the county I live in! For 40 years I’ve had the company-sponsored insurance plan. Not next year! Now I have to make a choice…

It’s “Deciding” Time!

Broaden Your Options

When I was much younger I was told that a college degree was necessary. I proved that theory wrong when I entered IT and did my career the way that suited me. But then, someone said something that was a deeper thought than the “necessary” aspect of the time spent learning:

It will broaden your options.

Much later in life, I enhanced my educational experience, and sure enough, my options opened up.

This brings me to my thought for today. Sometimes we make poor choices because we have few options. When you are injured, penniless, or penned in, then your options seem to be few. You feel hemmed in, and, in truth, you may be a product of your past. When you’ve painted yourself into a corner, then you simply have to wait for the paint to dry before your options improve!

During my younger years, I had mentors, teachers, coaches, pastors, and parents… all pointing me to be the best I could be. In turn, I used these skills to point others to the path of being the best they could be. Just yesterday, a young man who was part of our world a few years ago, messaged me and thanked me for helping him become who he is today. He’s still on a path forward, but a book given to him had an endorsement I had written a few years ago. He paused in his life, reached out to me, and warmed my heart with his kind words.

As I have helped expand his options, he expanded my view of how I have lived my life. I am making a difference, and that’s all that matters!

Who Do You Follow?

This brings me to my focused point. Who do you follow? Are they speaking positively in your life? Do they challenge you where you are? Can they expand your horizons so that your options are immensely better than you could imagine?

When it comes to certain areas of my life, I choose those who have the voice of experience and knowledge. To learn how to think better, I find those who have shown me how to “think outside of the box”. To speak better? I challenge myself by listening to those who are great orators and storytellers. To think better? Well, this is a tough one. Deep thinkers don’t always present their thoughts, but when they do, then I dig into their words!

This morning, while perusing my various news and social feeds, a prevailing thought pounded my subconscious. Analyzing what I found, it seemed like the voice of the times was telling me it’s “Deciding Time”.

• Before you decide, broaden your option set. Ask yourself, what am I missing? ~Timothy L Coomer
• A decision cuts off all other possibilities. It is an inflection point in life. ~Timothy L Coomer
• When you are feeling powerless…Remember, you still have MANY choices. They may look like “run” or “stop” or “Pray” but you still have choices. It may not be easy, but it doesn’t mean it’s impossible. ~Brian J Dixon
• Sometimes you think you’ve been buried. Actually, you’ve been planted. ~Bruce Van Horn
• If it inhabits your mind, it will inhabit everything about your life… there is no escape from what you allow to rule your mind. ~me….

Now. These voices do not tell me what my choice should be, but they each open up avenues of thought to consider a broader range of options.

Spiritual Application

Through the past few years, I’ve been following Bryan Duncan, a Christian singer who has challenged me to think differently about life. Just this morning, while thinking through this “deciding time” blog post, he tweeted these two thoughts that got my juices flowing…

• It is because of fear that we imagine giants where small men stand. Goliath was the only giant Mentioned in the Bible and he went down with a pebble from a brook #DefyFear #BelieveGod
• Moses sent 12 spies to check out the promised land. Only 2 believed it could be taken. Maybe Moses was great because he didn’t side with the majority #NutshellSermon

Think about others who have been in their own personal “deciding time”. How did they decide? What was their process? Then, think about the aftermath.

David was called “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22)  even though his life was anything but perfect, nor did he always make good choices.

Moses, the leader of the exodus was not even allowed to enter the promised land because of his choice in the heat of the moment. (Deuteronomy 32:48-52) Yet, no greater prophet then he was ever seen until Jesus came. (Deuteronomy 34:10, Hebrews 3:1-6)

Here’s My Thought Today

Making decisions is not easy even when you have a wide range of options. If it’s a “no brainer” then why even talk about it! Being wise and making the right choice is what we all want to do. Every moment of the day I make a decision. Whether how to spend my next minute of time, or planning for a later event, I often anchor my decision with cement!

Medicare is prompting me to make a decision by a set date in December, but my bride must make her choice by the end of November. That pushes me! It’s “deciding time”!

In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing. Theodore Roosevelt