Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Values Guide Choices

Movement is a sign of life, even when the direction is not clear. We are certainly alive in our Morning Bible Study because there is much movement going on.

Yesterday morning, John departed Montana for a four-day trek back to San Antonio, TX where he will be starting a new job. This will also provide him with the opportunity to spend more time with his three grandchildren before the military transfers them and their parents sometime this fall. Meanwhile, his wife, Clar, is staying behind for a couple of months in Montana before joining them.

Gail and Marilyn are entertaining their granddaughter, Therese, for a few weeks. At the same time, they are preparing for the influx of family for the celebration of their 50th Wedding Anniversary over the 4th of July. There is still time for any friends or family to add thoughts or reflections to my previous blog so that I can include them in the booklet I am preparing for the "newly weds".

My Love and I are juggling schedules with her sister, Annette, who is in the process of remodeling her home in Larrabee before moving back to it this coming weekend. That is all being done while at the same time trying to provide 24 hour care for their parents, especially her Dad. With the rest of the family, we are approaching decisions about their future care. Where all that will lead remains to be seen.

As all these decisions and new directions are entered into, it becomes more and more clear what the values are of those making them. What is truly important and what shapes meaning for all those involved begins to surface as the peripheral and unimportant is stripped away. Questions begin to surface like: Whose good are we focusing on? What do we really want for them? What is the best choice at this time? As was said on our call yesterday, "We may not be doing what we like to do, but we are doing what we want to do." We are doing what we really value in our heart of hearts.

Look back on the important decisions that you have made in the last months, last year. What do they tell you about your own values? What are you able to sift out for yourself and say with clarity: These are my values. Are you satisfied with them?

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