Be sure to choose wisely
September 21, 2011 (Wednesday)
How many different colors exist? Probably millions, when different shadings are taken into account. When I was a kid in elementary school, we had to have a set of water colors. As I recall, there were three colors, from which we made many other colors by combining those three.Here’s a chart showing 140 colors.
How many different flavors of ice cream? Again, harkening back to my childhood, I remember Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry. Banana Nut was the only other one I recall. Today, how many flavors are there? The Penn State Creamery makes about 100 flavors.
How many kinds of vehicles on our roads today? When I was a kid my friend and I stood by a busy street and yelled out the name, model and year of every car that passed. It wasn’t hard, because there were not many different kinds. Today it’s a different story. I have read that there are over 1000 different kinds. The variety exists in brand names, types of vehicles (sedan, suv, truck, van, etc), colors, styles, you name it. As a person who has been toying with the idea of buying, I can tell you I am thoroughly confused by the sheer variety of what is now available.
Been to the breakfast cereal aisle lately? Please don’t shoot me, but one more time let me say it: “When I was a kid…” Back then there was Quaker, Kellogg and Post, with cereals from corn, wheat, oats and sometimes rice. Didn’t take up much shelf space. Choices were not that numerous. Today, a grocery store is hard pressed to display them all on one aisle, and it has to be a big one. Here’s a list. Count them if you can.
Choices. Imagine yourself a young person in today’s world. Never before have there been as many choices for you. On every side, you are offered alternatives for your life. Some are good. Some are not so good. Some are downright terrible. Remember, the choices you make will be with you from now on. Makes me think of what Joshua said to his people one day: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve..But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15 NIV).