Sorry! But if you were expecting a meteorological treatise—this isn’t it. This is a “My whether,” or a “your whether;” you know the kind—you face a choice, or dilemma. Somehow, you must decide whether to choose this or that, or it will be decided for you. I remember as a child, standing in front of the glass display case of candy in my grandfather’s country store—trying to decide; “whether” to get one of those double “Mary Janes” or a chocolate covered bon bon, with the one coin I had. It was a weighty, well, “Whether!”
As adults, “whether” decisions can still be difficult for us, sometimes even cataclysmic. Over the years, we all have faced making difficult educational, vocational, social, and varieties of other decisions; nearly all of them face a “Whether.” Some decisions may have hinged upon deciding to make an apparently innocuous phone call, or responding to a voicemail. Reflecting on some decisions we may wonder how different would life be now, on this side of that decision.
No decision is made in a vacuum. Back in the mid 20th century, Vance Packard wrote a book, “”The Hidden Persuaders.” It was an “early warning,” in a manner of speaking, about how Madison Avenue—-and its iterations—manipulates our choices. It is much more so now. Everything we come in contact with tends to guide our choices; media, colors, placement of products, message contents, even the flowers placed around buildings are there with a message. We know that, and mostly have learned to filter our choices for the better.
It is a bit harder to make purely personal decisions, especially in the ubiquitous Social Media realm. We know this, but often ignore what the manipulative algorithms choose for us through the content that gets into our electronic devices. But we often tend to make Faustian deals with the Internet and find ourselves in a love-hate relationship with it. Britannica says, a Faustian bargains are by their nature tragic or self-defeating for the person who makes them, because what is surrendered is ultimately far more valuable than what is obtained, whether or not the bargainer appreciates that fact.
There are better ways to bring joy and richness to life than relying on the “Hidden Persuaders.” Changing our playgrounds and playmates can be a dramatic start. It takes intentional effort and clear decision making to move the narrative of you life more into your own realm. The Apostle Paul offers superb guidance; Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould. It’s a little like a visit with the doctor; “Doctor, it always hurts when I do this!” to which the doctor says, “Then stop doing it.” It is a silly retort, but with punch. We tend to create much of our own sorrow or joy. Choose joy.
When Jesus spoke of life’s difficulties and worries, he admonished his followers to take one day at a time. Each day, he said, will have worries of its own, without adding to worries you already have. Jesus taught his disciples to recognize the gifts and splendor they enjoy daily, and to receive them joyfully. How quickly and easily we overlook the better side of our daily “Whethers!”
©Copyright Willis H Moore 2022