Decide on What is Excellent

​by: Atty. Carolina Lim-Gamban

Have you watched the movie Wakanda forever? If you have watched it,  there was a fighting scene between Princess Shuri and Namore. At the end of the fight, the former could have killed the latter but Princess Shuri did not. It may be a swift decision to thrust the spear into the throat of Namore but, she chose what is the right thing to do – to go for peace rather than end in the war that may annihilate the people of the two nations. Princess Shuri’s decision at that time was founded on what she is really internally, her true identity – one who is not driven with vengeance nor with personal ambition, but one who values what is right thing to do. She took the decision which would bring peace to the two nations - hers and Namore’s.
 
In our every day life we can be confronted by a dilemma where we have to choose from more than two options. It is difficult to be caught in between the choices because of the consequences it may bring. Worse, every delay in decision-making may bring about another consequence - like a time bomb ticking and every second counts. Theodore Roosevelt, an American statesman said, “In any moment of decision, the best you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.”  This is true because decisiveness, according to Collins Dictionary, is the ability to make quick decisions in a difficult or complicated situation. However, at times, it is really difficult to make sound decisions but we can learn from what Roy E. Disney said - “It is not hard to make decisions once you know what your values are.” It is more difficult to decide when we are compromising. Our moral compass should not waver, going to the left or right, or else our decision making will also waver. We have to ensure that our moral compass is pointing to the True North. For this to happen, we have to train ourselves in righteousness so that as our muscles are built up in righteousness, the decisions we make will also lean towards righteousness, that is, right before God, right before the people, right before our enemies, and right before ourselves.
 
Do not decide just because it is popular – many are doing it, and so you also do it. Remember, what’s popular isn’t always right and what’s right isn’t always popular, learning from the words of Albert Einstein. When you are in a crossroad make sure that you are in proper disposition – do not decide when you are angry sad, happy, intoxicated, or the like. Sound decisions happen when you have a sound mind, a sound heart, and a sound body. If anyone is lacking of this soundness, let us ask God for wisdom and discernment.
 
When we decide on what will bring love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, it will not bring any opposite reaction because it is written – against these things, there is no law . While we are confronted by many dilemma in our lives, in our workplace, or even at home, make sure that we are founded on truth and the precepts of God so that we will not be derailed or defocused. When we are in the Valley of decisions, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.