What is the most faithful thing I can do right now?
What can personally help me decide what is the best thing to do at any given moment?
I have a lot of things to do each day. In fact, at any given moment in time, I have plenty of options to choose from in terms of what I could possibly be doing right now. I could choose to go for a run or make breakfast or vacuum the living room floor or read a book or write this blog entry. Obviously, I'm choosing at this very moment to write. But I have lots of other options to choose from. It can be overwhelming at times to decide what to do. And if I don't give it some intentional thought, I'll likely just succumb to the whims and demands of others and the world.
What can personally help me decide what is the best thing to do at any given moment? I have a simple question that I ask myself on a regular basis: "What is the most faithful thing I can do right now?" This question helps me take a step back so that I can analyze the current circumstances and choose an option that is most appropriate.
For example, if I'm in the family room with my son, the most faithful thing I can do at that moment is to be present with him. Maybe I'll read a book to him or join him in playing with his favorite toys. If it's 10 PM and I'm on my bed, the most faithful thing I can do at that moment is go to sleep. I can think about work or other things another time. In the mornings, before everybody is awake, the most faithful thing I can do at that moment is pray and meditate. For me, scrolling on social media when I wake up wouldn't be a faithful (and productive) choice.
The question, "What is the most faithful thing I can do right now?," helps me prioritize my options and select the one that will have the greatest impact depending on the circumstances. It also helps me stay present in the moment so that I can give my best attention to what's in front of me. I'm also less anxious as all I need to concentrate on is the faithful thing I'm doing right now. After doing whatever that faithful thing is, I can move on to the next one by asking the exact same question. I imagine that a good day simply looks like a series of faithful decisions that are made one after another.
This may not necessarily be a perfect strategy for decision-making. I could end up choosing something that is less optimal for the moment. And that's OK. I'm still on a learning curve (a life-long learning curve) when it comes to better decision-making. But what this does help me with is to intentionally think through my choices rather than simply being tossed around by the demands of the world. As time goes by, I will hopefully make better and more faithful decisions in every moment.
Barnabas the Monastic
Servant of Christ. Husband. Dad. Modern Monastic. I have a wild ambition in life: get as close to the Lord Jesus Christ as I can while on earth. I explore and integrate ancient Christian monk wisdom in modern everyday life. Lives in Canada.
