The Tapestry of Choice: Weaving a Meaningful Life

Life’s journey is often likened to a vast, intricate tapestry woven over time with threads of countless decisions. Whether mundane or monumental, every choice we make subtly shapes our life’s pattern.

In short, our choices add depth and texture to our existence. Choices are the loom upon which we weave our tapestry, and the meaningful life is a beautiful, coherent pattern borne out of careful selection.

Tale of Two Wolves

The tale usually attributed to a Cherokee Indian Chief about two wolves beautifully captures the essence of life’s ongoing struggle and the power of choice that we possess. Like a seasoned storyteller unravels his plot, the Chief reveals to his young grandson the crux of existence.

“A battle is being waged within each of us,” says the old chief.  “it is a ferocious combat between two wolves. One is the height of evil, a creature bloated with anger, sorrow, regret, greed, self-pity, and false pride. The other wolf is goodness, its spirit overflowing with joy, peace, love, humility, kindness, and faith.”

Coated within this storyteller’s analogy, the grandson seeks to know, “Grandfather, which wolf will win?” The old Chief replies with the wisdom of the ages, “The one you feed.”

At the heart of this story lies a profound metaphor of life that underscores the transformative power of choice. Every decision we make, as insignificant as it might seem, is akin to offering food to the evil wolf or the good one residing within us. Our choices work like sculptor’s tools.  They subtly chisel and shape our inner wolves and, by extension, the direction and quality of our lives.

As Proverbs 16:9 says, ” The human heart plans the way, but the LORD directs the steps.” This verse reminds us that our choices, aligned with the divine, ultimately chart our course.

Romans 7:15-20

This concept reverberates strongly with the thoughts of St. Paul in Romans 7:15-20. St. Paul explains the perpetual tug-of-war between the yearning to do good and the alluring pull of evil.

“What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate.  Now if I do what I do not want, I concur that the law is good.  So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.  For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh. The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not.  For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.  Now if [I] do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.”

The duality of our nature is echoed in both the Cherokee parable and St. Paul’s reflections.  It underscores the timeless human challenge to navigate the winding labyrinth of life wisely and choose the righteous path, even when it appears enshrouded in ambiguity.

C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis once reflected, “Whenever you decide, you’re altering the core aspect of yourself, the decision-making part, ever so slightly. Cumulatively, over your lifetime, with all the countless decisions, you’re gradually molding this core into a divine being or a malevolent one. The former aligns in harmony with God, fellow beings, and oneself, embodying joy, serenity, enlightenment, and strength. The latter signifies chaos, terror, confusion, fury, impotence, and infinite isolation. Every moment, we are gravitating towards one of these states.”

This sentiment, from Lewis’ “Mere Christianity,” amplifies the weight and impact of our choices.

Dance of Life

Our existence can be likened to an expansive novel teeming with various chapters in its grandeur and complexity. Each chapter has many choices, akin to the words that weave the tale.

Much like words, our choices create a unique narrative that is solely ours. A compelling novel engages its readers not just by the plot but also by the power of its words, collection, and rhythm. Similarly, a meaningful life thrives not merely on the magnitude of choices but on their wisdom and intent.

As the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:15-16, ” Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity . . . “  Indeed, the dance of life becomes meaningful when choreographed with wise choices, contributing to the symphony of existence.

As I wrote recently in Marriage: Loss, Grief, and Recovery, the metaphor of a potter shaping clay also aptly illustrates the transformative power of choices.

In Jeremiah 18:4 the prophet write’s, “Whenever the vessel of clay he was making turned out badly in his hand, he tried again, making another vessel of whatever sort he pleased.” Our choices are the potter’s hands that shape our lives. Some choices may leave us marred, but we always have the potential to reshape ourselves to form a new pot that aligns with our aspirations.

Crossroads

In every moment, we stand at a crossroads, presented with a choice to nourish the good wolf or the bad one.  We can surrender either to the law of sin or the law of God, to be in harmony with God or to be in war with God.

When confronted with malicious thoughts, we should recognize them for what they are and rebuke them, for they likely originated from a place of darkness. By consciously making such thoughtful choices, we carve a path of joy, peace, love, humility, kindness, and faith for ourselves.   But just as importantly, we also influence the collective narrative.

Our individual choices not only shape our journeys but also form our collective existence. As we nurture the good wolf within, we inadvertently inspire others to echo our intentions. This ripple effect of collective choices can orchestrate a symphony that reverberates with the profound melodies of meaningful lives.

Choices

Choices are the threads that weave our life’s tapestry.  They are the words that write our story, and the potter’s hands that shape our existence.  They are the seeds that grow our garden of life.

Each choice, like a step in a dance, leads us to new experiences and learnings. When we make conscious, purposeful choices that reflect our values, we can weave a tapestry, write a story, steer a boat, and grow a garden that mirrors a meaningful life.

As we journey through life, let us choose wisely, knowing that a meaningful life is not a destination, but a journey shaped by the richness and depth of our choices.