The story...
Life's taught me that I don't know what's best in many or most situations. The best is often applying something that seemed to work well in similar situations. It's especially likely that I'll choose a suboptimal course of action if it: involves something that I'm comfortable with; allows me to apply a skill that I've developed; if it uses the tool(s) at hand; brings positive attention towards myself; pleasures me; or is consistent with my limited knowledge. Actually, I think that I'm a good decision maker. Yet, I'm prone to make biased-suboptimal decisions while hoping for a cloudy picture of what the best future might hold.
I once taught a graduate class on forecasting with mathematical models. It involved identifying causal and non-causal data related to key outcomes, weighting historical data, measuring trends, discovering seasonality, and the testing of these time-series models with both historical and current reality. There was always the underlying concern that these data were not recorded accurately or precise enough. A good model's helpful for planning within varying: environments, materials, Geopolitics, competitors, and the actual behavior of the people involved. Sometimes it seems difficult, if not impossible, to do "good" enough. Our omniscient God knows - but I, his creature, do not - "A man's got to know his limitations."
Most of us believe that a virtuous life is better than a non-virtuous one; but, we might stray and vary between season and conditions. I value honesty and integrity while others plan on lying as necessary in an effort to achieve a more favorable outcome. Insecurity can cause us to live cautiously within ever-changing environments. Situations and related decision making is rarely black-and-white - our situations are often cloudier and greyer with spots of sunshine peaking through.
God's trustworthy and He cares for each of those who trust in His big-loving hands. This you'll hear within the only church in town. We can trust Him for the stuff that's outside our control and influence. When trusting God, we're more likely to live out a restful, peaceful, and hopeful life. A life that appreciates the past, lives in the present, and trusts God for the future. It's a wonderful thing to walk through this life, and eternity, within the favor of God - in Christ. You can fellowship with your Creator and Father now.
Just for today...
"I found it relatively easy to make a decision to turn over my will and my life to God. However, I didn't have any idea how to actually do it." Hope for Today (p. 338)
"Speculating on other people's attitudes and motives is a waste of time and effort. To search out the reasons for my own is a voyage of discovery!" One Day at a Time (p. 338)
"Meditation is higher spiritual awareness . . . a quiet place . . . beyond my thoughts . . . attention on the present day only, leaving the past and the future alone." Courage to Change (p. 338)
"Will control; Not so much - Influential push; Fell down."
"Chaos pressed, Peace lost - God held; Big hands." Am I a Poet?
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