This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NIV)

Life is about choices, and those choices, no matter how small, can and do have lasting consequences. Moses had led the people of Israel through the wilderness for 40 years, and they were about to enter the Promised Land. In his final words Moses put before them a choice: Obey the commandments that the Lord has given you and live, or choose not to obey them, and die. In this case the choice they made had eternal consequences. Our faith teaches that we also must make a similar choice, whether to put our faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ which promises eternal life, or to either reject or ignore the grace of God which leads to spiritual death. For me this is the most important choice anyone will ever make.

Not all choices are this crucial or have eternal significance. What flavor of ice cream, or what color clothes we put on are not very earth shaking, but none the less they can effect our lives in the short term. Many choices we make do have significant effect on our lives and well being, both physical and spiritual. We choose what we eat or drink, and that has immense effect on our health. We choose what to read or what to watch, and these choices affect our thinking and often behavior. We choose whether we will spend time in prayer, reading of the word, and worship which has a huge impact on our spiritual well being. We also have the ability to choose how we respond to adversity, challenges, and circumstances. The old knight in the movie Indiana Jones and the Holy Grail said it best, "You must choose, so choose wisely".

Over the past few months I have suffered the consequences of some poor health choices over my lifetime. I was experiencing fatigue, irritability, blurred vision, thirst, and frequent trips to the restroom. While I was in California I checked my glucose level and the results caused me to make an appointment with my doctor as soon as we returned. In his office I heard the official words, "you have Type II diabetes!" At first we were stunned. After an emotional couple of days filled with anger, anxiety, and foreboding Janet and I made the choice to accept my diabetes and make the lifestyle changes necessary to assure a long and fruitful future.

Strict diet, weight loss, and consistent exercise will bring my body back into balance as God intended. These changes have already produced positive results as my glucose levels are coming down, I have shed some pounds, and I feel better than I have in a long time. Change has its rewards and challenges. I must keep a regular schedule for meals and I must watch what I eat closely. I also must take time each day to fit in the gym or other forms of exercise so that I can maintain my health. I ask for your prayers and support as we do our best to make healthy, life-giving choices each day.

We all must make choices and Janet and I have chosen life. We are thanking the Lord for this wake-up call because this most likely will add healthier years to my life rather than take them away, and it will assure us of years of service in the Lord's vineyard.

Blessings,

Fr. David