As I think about how choices are made I remember that the theory of individual choice is a basic belief of Spiritualism. We know that life on the earth plane is a classroom in which to learn. Each decision that we make has at least three positions to consider. Two positions are at opposite ends of the spectrum and the middle position is one of neutrality, where it is possible to observe and wait for more information before an action is taken.

It is important to consider the role of courage in each choice. Fear and anxiety are concepts that are frequently used interchangeably, however they are not the same. Fear is associated with a definite object, in which we can actively engage and struggle. Courage enables us to meet this feared object and self-love, or the knowledge of being at-one-with-God, can then inspire the ability to move past fear. Anxiety has no object and results in helplessness, as there is no object on which to concentrate. Anxiety causes the self to disappear as we enter a state of intolerable non-being where we feel abandoned.

I wonder why people are so afraid of the unknown and I realize that we fear ‘nothingness’. This state of being is the absence of everything that is familiar and comforting to us. However this unknown is of a unique sort, for the future cannot be known. It is most common in society to fear death. Spiritualists know that death is a continuation of life where the individual identity is retained. Yet, how often do individual actions show that sort of consciousness? For those situations that each of us is afraid, I have observed that when one ceases to care about the approval of others and moves forward with authenticity and love fear disappears and it is as if the Red Seas were parted once again.

Choices are usually made based upon feelings, not on the lessons to be learned from history. Ultimately, lessons are learned not by reflection but by doing and then suffering the repercussions of our actions. This is called, ‘the hard way’, and then these actions are repeated as people continue to look for a loophole, or the suspension of Natural Law. These exemptions are not to be found as the laws of the universe are immutable and there are no exceptions.

In the attempt to move past anxiety and fear people search for emotional ties. It is common to look for someone that we can believe in more than we believe in ourselves, since we have been unfaithful to ourselves so often. I know what I want. I want to be faithful to my ideals and trustworthy. These ideals include telling the truth even when the truth is hard. I don’t care if I am right or wrong. I do care that those whom I know understand that I honor their change of heart and appreciate it when they tell me. Change is inevitable and promises must be reviewed when circumstances change. Nothing is written in stone except for the Ten Commandments.

If we are to be trustworthy, we must trust the self-knowledge that says to each person, "you are lovable." Knowing and living this to the best of my ability enables me to be able to love and welcome love.

At each minute I am faced with the universal questions of making choices that are life affirming, even when it is leaving the familiar and going into a state of chaos. When I have doubts I know that I must leave my familiar form and begin again to build a relationship with the God in myself. Then, you and I can meet and I am fully present.

The door to reformation is never closed here or hereafter, and as we relearn this over and over again we know how our actions effect others. I think that the courage to make the choice to be truthful is really all that we owe one another as the definition of love includes truth. Courage is a full place where sudden gifts of strength are revealed as we journey on the path from fear to creativity.

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