Liz Pemberton August 7th 2016 ~ Values and Choices

Earlier this week I was reminded by someone wise that the choices we make in our lives should be based on our values.  This is, of course, not a new idea but one that sometimes gets a little bit lost, especially when we are trying to make choices while feeling a little squeezed by life and while dealing with a huge range of emotions and a great number of thoughts.  While there are often many complexities when it comes to making a decision, we want our values to be in the driver’s seat, not things like fear of missing out, guilt, worry, weariness or anger.As I was pondering this, I began to prepare to teach CRE this week and found that the lesson was all about God’s values shaping our values.  The Bible story for the week was the story of Ruth and it talked about her courage, her loyalty and her care for her mother-in-law.  In class we talked about God’s values of faithfulness and service which we can see in Ruth’s actions towards Naomi.    The year 2s then thought about the school values, which included care, collaboration and respect, and we wondered together how those values could impact our behaviour and actions in the week ahead.  A couple of kids said they would see if anyone was sitting on the buddy bench and invite them to play.  Another one said she would take special care to respect school property.  Another one told us she would offer help to a particular student who might need it.  And two of the kids made a commitment to look after the class mealworms and make sure they were well-fed and cared for.  All these choices and actions were based on the values we had identified earlier.  We finished with a prayer asking God to walk alongside us and help us as we lived out these values.With all of this going on I began to wonder whether it was time I sat down and made a list of my own values.  While I know in my head the things I value, perhaps it is time to write them down for myself, then when it comes time to make a decision and I need a reference point, I can read them and be reminded of what is really important to me - and I can also check them against God’s values and make sure I’m on the right track!  Many of us may have been involved in writing vision and values statements for companies or groups we are part of but have you actually done it for yourself or for your families?  And in the process have you asked God to remind you and show you what He values and then shape you so that these become your values too?I have started my list.  The first thing on it is love, the kind of love that models itself on God’s generous, inviting, challenging love.   The rest of the list is coming soon!   What’s on yours?I pray that the Holy Spirit would whisper (or shout if that’s what’s needed) God’s values into our ears and hearts day by day as we face decisions, big and small.  May our will and way reflect God’s will and way and bring us clarity, peace and joy.Yours on the journey,Liz