One of our greatest abilities as humans is that we are capable of making choices. There are many times when we do not feel that we have a choice, or we feel limited by the weight of the choice and subsequent behavioral changes. What was your first, immediate thought when you viewed the above photo? Did you immediately focus on the city of Buda seen through the arches? Did you immediately give attention to the surrounding, near structure that limits full view of Buda?
I understand that you have the ability to see both the nearby structure and the city beyond. I just wonder if you can identify to which you are drawn or deterred. What does this mean to you? Think about your life situations, relationship dynamics, and decision-making patterns. As a human, with emotions, you likely have an impulsive response that is either positive or negative, with varying degrees of intensity. This is perfectly appropriate because you are human! Nonetheless, we must recognize our initial responses so that we can step back or step forward, whichever is your case, and understand the large and small, immediate and distant, aspects of our human experiences. If you are a parent, it is helpful to know how your child/children view their world as well.
If you find that the arched wall seems to block your view or if the deterioration of the wall troubles you before you can really appreciate the city beyond the arches, you might be the type of person who has an immediate aversion to change, decisions, changes of plans, or new ideas. On the other hand, if you are drawn to the city beyond the arches then you might be one who gets caught up in looking beyond the obvious or troubling aspects of choices. Maybe you are the type of person who seeks light and positive, without feeling concerned about keeping a realistic view of the challenges of change. It could be that you did not even notice the facade that impedes your view because the view is so captivating to you.
Of course, you might be one who smiles because the beauty of the deteriorating wall just enhances the beauty of the city beyond. The process of change is the one thing that brings meaning to the change. Maybe you do not make changes just for the sake of change, as some do; however, you recognize that the process and discomfort is actually what facilitates joy and fulfillment. Life will have challenges, relationships will result in hurts and some brokenness, and decisions in one direction will mean the turning away from or letting go of something else you cherish. No matter your situation, if you just keep walking, keep moving forward toward what you believe you are to do, the journey will come together to create a mosaic of beauty that includes positive and negative, good and bad, old and new, as well as regret and redemption. You are human and this is our story of choice. Celebrate being human because the ultimate view of our life will be the one we choose. Challenge: Choose to see your life and humanity as a process of beauty.
A Chosen Life 