In today’s
first reading, 1 Kings 17: 7-16, we learn that the place where Elijah was
hiding dried up. Elijah is directed
to move on to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. "...a widow...[will] provide for you." Elijah had the choice of following those directions or of ignoring them.
“Oh, I will manage right here,” he might have argued. “I will be fine,” might
have been another way of resisting the voice within him telling him that it was
time to move on. Furthermore, Elijah might have bulked on depending on a poor widow!
The Lord is
always giving us directions throughout the day. These directions may seem so
mundane
that we simply
ignore them and choose otherwise only to
regret that we did not listen to the
suggestions
rising within us. Or, what we are hearing may sound outright ludicrous. Our response: "No way; I will do it my way!" Or we might argue: “What will others think?” Or, “let me check
this out with so-and-so
first,” not trusting ourselves as having the wisdom from within the core of our
being, where the
Spirit resides, to be making a right choice.
This is not to say that consultation is not important, but how often
do we not live to please others and not ourselves and not our God!
No one
was around but Elijah, you say. He had to trust God. “No, he didn’t,” is my response. He had a choice,
because God will not coerce us to follow the Spirit within us. He gave us a
free will and will
always
allow us that freedom. God does not force
us to follow His directions or to be His servant or handmaiden. He gives directions freely all of the time;
and, yes, all of the time, he respects
our free will to say “yes” or to say “no.”
What will
my choice/your choice be?
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