Choices at Dawn #902

Choices at Dawn In the quiet hours before dawn's first light, the world holds its breath — a canvas untouched by the rush of day. There, in the sacred silence, we find ourselves at the crossroads of devotion and desire. This is the hour of choosing. "No one can serve two masters," the ancient wisdom whispers, a gentle but firm reminder that the heart cannot chase two destinies at once. Can the soul be leased to both God and gold, or will it falter, torn between the ephemeral and the eternal? Consider the Rich Fool, his barns bursting, yet his spirit barren. He hoards the harvest of the earth, not knowing that true wealth blooms in the gardens of the spirit. The voice of truth calls us to sow differently — to invest in the richness of righteousness, the currency of compassion. And see how the Master himself retreated to solitude, as stars still adorned the morning sky. His prayers were whispers in the darkness, confessions of dependence and declarations of trust. In these quiet moments, He aligned the compass of His soul to the north of God’s will. Beware the path of Ananias and Sapphira, whose footsteps faltered, misled by the mirage of deceit. They sought to serve both self and community, only to find their duplicity unearthed before the apostles. A grim tale reminding us that integrity is the cornerstone of community, and without it, all endeavors crumble. So let us rise, not just in body but in spirit. To feed His sheep, to shepherd hearts towards pastures green and waters still. To lead not by decree, but by the gentle hand of example, tending to the flock with the shepherd’s staff of truth and the robe of humility. In this waking hour, let us choose wisely — let the day bear witness to our resolve, to serve not the fleeting but the forever. Let our actions sing hymns of devotion, our lives a testament to the unseen, yet everlasting. For in choosing Him each morning, in every act of willful grace, we find the path home — not just walked, but cherished, as the rooster heralds not just the dawn of day, but the dawn of hope. Written by Steven G. Lee (April 14, 2024)