Lessons from Charlie Kirk's Shooting

September 10th, 2025, began as a beautiful day in Orem, Utah, about 39 miles south of Salt Lake City. The campus of Utah Valley University was abuzz with activity, a crowd of around three thousand people eagerly awaiting the appearance of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point, USA, who was scheduled to speak as a part of his “Prove Me Wrong” tour of college campuses across the United States. Kirk was widely known for inviting anyone to step up to the microphone and ask him questions or debate him on political and social issues. Neither Kirk himself, nor any of the members of the audience, were aware that Charlie would soon be asked the final question of his life.

Photo by Gage Skidmore

At 12:23 PM, as Kirk was discussing a question about mass shootings, a shot rang out. Kirk was struck in the neck, and the world was forever changed. A prominent political activist, focused on reaching America’s young adults with the truth of God’s word, had been brutally assassinated in front of a massive crowd of onlookers. As horrific as this event was, what followed was perhaps even more shocking.

Beginning mere moments after the news of the shooting got out, a wave of vile and disgusting comments began to surge online. Social media was flooded with content openly celebrating the murder of a man whose entire livelihood was based on reaching across the political and cultural divide in order to speak candidly, honestly, and above all, kindly with those who opposed his beliefs. Charlie Kirk’s consistent methodology when conducting his debates had been to listen carefully to the questions posed to him and to follow with a well-mannered, civil response. More often than not, his answers drifted into the realm of discussion and debate rather than simple Q&A. It was not at all uncommon for his adversaries to approach the mic with hostility, but Kirk’s replies and rebuttals were consistently kind and well-measured. The same cannot be said of the deluge of vulgar tweets, videos, and comments made by his detractors in the wake of his death.

Donald Trump and the Would-Be Assassin

Today was a historic day - or perhaps infamous would be a better way to describe it. July 13^th, 2024, will henceforth be known as the day that someone tried and failed to gun down former President (and current presidential candidate) Donald Trump. The Bible is quite clear about such actions. There’s even a commandment about it: ”Thou shalt not kill.” And yet, here we are.

America In The Last Days

I recently saw a meme complaining about Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA. According to the creator of the meme, every year around the 4^th of July, this song climbs way up the charts on all the major music streaming platforms. The problem? The song isn’t really patriotic or pro-America in any overtly discernible way. It does clearly seem to be the story of an armed forces veteran coming home after the Vietnam conflict, but I suppose if one such as the meme creator were to go searching for overt “Yay, America!” lyrics, they would indeed come up empty.

Seeing this meme caused me to begin thinking. First of all, I wondered why the meme’s author would care so much about whether the song was overtly patriotic or not. Then of course, I remembered that it’s the internet, and what good is the internet if one can’t complain about obscure minutiae? More importantly, I began thinking about the usual rhetoric that accompanies Independence Day in the US, and how, at least in Christian circles, I often hear one of two refrains…

Many Christians wax optimistic about the future and how America will be a light unto the world until Christ returns. Others complain about the state of society and talk about how we need to turn this country around before it’s too late. Both of these statements miss a very important Biblical fact: the United States of America will have little to no role to play in the end times.

*gasping noises*

Continual Sin

“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” (1 John 2:6)

In my recent musings about the presence of sin in the life of a Christian, and specifically in my own life, I have been circling a very uncomfortable question. Before springing it on you out of the blue, let me lead into it in much the same way that it has pursued me: one step at a time.

We all know that a Christian’s life should reflect the holiness of Christ. We should, as stated above, walk as He walked. But we also know that we are not perfect. We will stumble, even fall from time to time. Fortunately for us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

We also know that we must not abuse the gift of forgiveness, as Paul states in Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” Again, we are clearly supposed to be imitators of Jesus: walk as He walked.

But we do fail. It is inevitable. Worse yet, we will do so repeatedly, even if we are trying our very best to do the right thing. Temptation comes, and far too often, we succumb to its treacherous pull. My own experience with this began to make me doubt myself. Mind you, I do not doubt God, but rather I came to doubt whether my own faith was genuine. Here enters the question which has been stalking me: am I truly a child of God, or am I taking His name in vain?

Escaping Sin

My previous essay focused on inescapable sin: the reality that as long as we live, sin is an enemy that will return to tempt us again and again, hounding us repeatedly until we finally shake off this mortal coil and join with our Savior beyond the veil. But is that the end of the story? Is there nothing which we can do to escape from the bonds of sin in this life?

That, my friend, is an excellent question. I’m so glad you asked!

From the very beginning, God gave us an indescribably wonderful (yet extremely dangerous) gift: free will. It is by our free will that we choose to place our faith in God through Jesus Christ. It is by our free will that we accept God’s gifts of forgiveness and grace. It is by our free will that we either accept all the blessings which God has offered us… or reject them.

It was Adam’s choice to allow the serpent to tempt Eve. It was Eve’s choice to eat of the one fruit which was specifically forbidden by God. It is each condemned individual’s choice to continually reject God’s offered salvation in favor of some temporary pleasure. We all make countless choices each day with our free will. Some choices are small and seem so insignificant that we barely even recognize them as conscious decisions at all: do I start walking with my left foot, or my right? Do I put on my socks before or after putting on my pants? (By the way, obviously before is the only correct answer!)

Inescapable Sin

“Things will be different this time, I promise!”

Anyone who has had a loved one struggle with addiction has probably heard these words before, or words much like them. As compassionate human beings, we sense the pain they feel, we clearly see their struggles, and we wish fervently to believe that their words will prove true… this time. We desperately want them to overcome their dependence on drugs, alcohol, gambling, or whatever else may be actively ruining their lives… this time.

The problem is, we’ve seen it all before, and it always seems to end up the same way. Sure, for now, they seem repentant. For now, they seem to realize the damage that their addiction has done to themselves and the people around them. For now, it seems like they truly want to change.

But we know how this always ends. Don’t we? Or… do we? Now, before you get all up in arms, assuming that I am disparaging those who suffer from addiction, please read a bit further.

The problem the addict faces, we who have never been diagnosed with an addiction also face. The enemy which stands before the addict is the same enemy which stands before every human being, every moment of our lives: the temptation to sin.

The Sins You Love to Hate

“Well, I’m not perfect, but at least I don’t do THAT!”

You’ve heard these words many times before. Honestly, I’d be willing to bet that you’ve said these words before, or at least something which expresses a very similar sentiment. We all have! And no wonder! On a daily basis, just going about our normal routines, it’s a near certainty that we will see or hear about some of the awful things going on in the world.

Things that we know are wrong.

Things that offend us.

Things that hurt our feelings.

Things that hurt other people.

But then there are some things that really get to us. Things which we would never, ever do. Things that we would never even imagine doing. Things which are so vile, so disgusting, so inherently evil that we wish God would just reach down and smite the people who are involved!

They deserve all the worst punishments that we can think of, and yet they keep getting away with this insanity.

How infuriating!

How dare they??

How can they not understand that what they are doing is horrific? It’s not only a violation of God’s law, but it flies in the face of nature itself! A little common sense should tell you that this is wrong!

These sins are a lot like villainous characters in movies, in that you love to hate them. These are the ones that you think of as being particularly bad, and you feel absolutely justified in railing against. They are the ones that you really (if you’re being totally honest) don’t think should be forgiven at all.

Those are things that no Christian would ever do, anyway.

Right?

Unknown Sin

So far, we have discussed the usurping sin of taking the Lord’s name in vain and the unpardonable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Today, we examine unknown sin: instances where we commit sins of which we are completely unaware.

Photo by Ann H on Pexels

You undoubtedly have heard the phrase, “Nobody’s perfect.” I would argue that there was one exception to that rule, but we (meaning humanity) nailed that individual to a cross roughly two millennia ago. Nevertheless, I’m sure that we would all agree that the sentiment is true today. The Bible states the situation quite concisely…

“…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23

Most of the time, we think of sin as happening at a decision-making point; we are faced with a situation where we must choose between two options: one which clearly honors God versus one which we would probably enjoy, but, for whatever reason, would put us clearly outside of God’s will. The problem is… life isn’t always so clear-cut. Sometimes, we may not even realize that we’re doing anything wrong!

Think back to your childhood. Did you ever get into trouble for doing something? Of course, you did! Were you ever asked, “Why did you do that?” Of course, you were! And I guarantee that you remember responding with, “I don’t know,” at least once. As (perhaps jaded) adults, we typically respond to a child who claims ignorance as a defense with disdain. “Oh, you know better than that!” But if I really search my memories, I’m certain that there were, in fact, times where I did things without thinking about whether they were good or bad. I just wanted to do it, and so, I did it.

Unforgivable Sin

Last week, we discussed the usurping sin of taking the Lord’s name in vain. In our investigation, we uncovered the seriousness of this sin; breaking the Third of the Ten Commandments…

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”  Exodus 20:7 and Deuteronomy 5:11

Image by Adis Resic from Pixabay

The explicit statement that God will not hold guiltless (will not forgive) anyone who takes His name in vain is a particularly unsettling thought. That’s a very steep penalty, especially in light of the New Testament, where salvation from our sins is based on the crucifixion of Jesus. Christ’s blood covers the sins of all who believe in Him, but we previously discussed why an outward statement of faith is not necessarily a true statement of what is in one’s heart. Even the New Testament mentions one sin that will not be forgiven. The unpardonable sin is revealed to us in Matthew 12:31, “…every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven…”

It might be easy to conclude that since both testaments mention a sin which will not be forgiven, the two sins in question must be the same. I have heard this argument made in sermons from time to time, but I believe it to be based on a misconception, much in the same way that people misunderstand what it actually means to take the Lord’s name in vain. Let’s explore the reasons why these verses refer to two very different sins.

Usurping Sin

I can't even begin to count the number of times that I’ve heard fellow Christians say something about how they feel when they hear someone “take the Lord’s name in vain.” We all know exactly what they are referring to: a particular bit of foul language that begins by saying “god” and ends with a word that sounds like the fruits of a beaver’s labor.

All misguided attempts at dad jokes aside, I know there are Christians out there who are sincerely bothered, even offended, by hearing the word in question. While “g-d” is considered by most people (even non-believers) to be one of the two biggest, or most intense, swear words (the other being the dreaded f-bomb), it has become almost ubiquitous in its usage in the entertainment industry and in the vocabulary which some people use commonly in their own personal conversations.

The Bible clearly says, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” This prohibition is important enough to be stated twice in the Old Testament: Exodus 20:7 and Deuteronomy 5:11. These verses are, in fact, the Third of the Ten Commandments!

Taking the Lord’s name in vain is a serious offense, as the text indicates that anyone who does so will not be held guiltless. Being held guiltless is a longer way of saying being forgiven, which in the context of Christianity equates to salvation; for only the saved are forgiven of their sins. In light of the New Testament, we now understand this to mean that anyone who takes the name of the Lord in vain shall not be saved by the atoning death of Christ on the cross. Clearly, it behooves us to understand exactly what act merits such a drastic outcome. As it turns out, an alarming number of Christians completely misunderstand this sin.

Frozen: Winter of the Soul

Photo Credit - Natalie Duncan Riddell

An old friend of mine took this photo. That picture is what actually inspired me to write this, even though in the moment that I first saw it, I had no idea what I would be writing about. I just knew that I had to write… something.

Now, if you’re from the south, like both of us (although she long ago went objectively insane and decided to move to the frozen wastes of Montana, where she just recently snapped this shot), this photo might look like harvest-time cotton, at least at first glance. But if you look at it a moment longer, you will notice that it’s not cotton at all, but rather snow collecting on the bare, spindly little branches of some type of tree or bush that I couldn’t identify if my life depended on it.

It’s a lovely shot, really; yet there’s something about it that makes me feel sad.

This being other than the fact that my friend now lives so far away in terrible, yucky, cold Montana. Oh, I tease. Montana, I’m sure, is a wonderful place (it’s certainly filled with beautiful countryside), but I cannot resist teasing my friend about the weather there. I can’t stand the cold. Not even a little bit. Give me the brutal summer of Arkansas in August anytime over that double-digits-below-zero nonsense.

I will admit that I do love a good snowfall in the winter. They are so rare here in the south. Snow blanketing the ground, the trees, the streets… icicles growing from the eaves of houses, snowmen, snow cream (yes the kind that uses raw eggs, USDA and USFDA regulations can take a long walk off a short pier)… these are the joys of winter that I absolutely love.

Book Release: Living in the Armor

My new book is available on Amazon! You can find it at the following link:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087R5Q4XC

Are you living in the Whole Armor of God? Come join author Craig Wadley on an exploration of the symbolism behind the Whole Armor of God as described in Ephesians 6:11-17. Examine each piece of a Roman soldier's gear in great detail in order to reveal secrets which are often overlooked. From the strengthening power of the Belt of Truth to the authoritative sovereignty of the Sword of the Spirit, every item unlocks new layers of spiritual symbolism which can be put to work in our daily lives. Learn how to apply the Biblical principles of truth, righteousness, preparation, faith, and so much more to situations which you face every day. The Whole Armor of God is a picture of the Christian life which you can use as a tool for growth in your walk with Christ. 

Living in the Armor by Craig Wadley

Borrowed Trouble: The Art of Getting Bitten by Dogs

I don’t have to tell you that social media has become a potentially ugly place. There are many issues which divide us, and emotions run hot far too much of the time. Now I have to admit that I have been guilty of this as well. Many are the times when I have posted some article, typically political in nature, which had lit the fires of anger within me.  But I have wised up and cut back on such posts.

I had to, for my own sanity.

Image by GemmaRay23 from Pixabay 

Once upon a time, Facebook (my primary social media app) was a fun place to go online. You had a wall where you could post pieces of flair (yes that was a long time ago), you could share funny pictures, and you could update your friends on what was going on in your life. Now to be fair, you can still do most of these things (I think the flair app is no more, alas), but Facebook took a turn for the worse when they introduced an integrated News Feed.

We all know what it has turned into today. Everywhere you turn, there’s a negative or inflammatory article, an angry rant, or everyone’s favorite, some fake news. I have friends on both sides of the political aisle, and I can assure you that both sides are equally guilty of all the bad things.

Angry, profanity-ridden rants? Both sides.

Negative, divisive opinion pieces? Both sides.

Fake news? Both sides.

Unnecessarily hostile attitudes? Let me assure you, this too is coming from both sides.

Why?

The Final Cut (The Armor, part 18)

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning…

~Ecclesiastes 7:8 (ESV)

And so we arrive at the final lesson in this series. Not that we have uncovered all that there is to learn from the Whole Armor of God, but all projects must come to an end. It is fitting that the Sword of the Spirit represents the Word of God, for we are able to finish this study where it began: with Jesus Christ.

Photo by Søren Niedziella, edited for use here.

You may recall that the first item of the armor, the Belt of Truth, works to reveal the truth of Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior. As mentioned previously, the Sword of the Spirit, as the Word of God, also represents Christ, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Whether by intent or serendipity (or by divine intervention), Paul frames this entire list of items in a way which echoes the following words recorded by John…

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

~Revelation 22:13 (ESV)

How do we use this final piece of the Armor of God? What would it mean to put on the Sword of the Spirit? Can one wield Jesus Christ as a weapon? Could we turn the Messiah into an implement of war?

Close Quarters Combat (The Armor, part 17)

I have never seen (nor do I wish to see) an exorcism. What I have seen, and perhaps you have seen them as well, are cinematic portrayals of exorcisms in movies and on TV. Linda Blair’s stunning scene from The Exorcist (1973) remains one of the most dramatic and terrifying scenes of spiritual warfare in cinematic history. While I know little about whether the movie portrayed such an event accurately, I am certain that such combat in our daily lives is always up-close, personal, and dangerous. There truly is no such thing as safe, long-distance spiritual warfare.

Photo by Matthias Kabel

The same could be said of combat as experienced by Roman legionnaires of the first century. Heavily armored and wielding large protective shields, Roman soldiers required a weapon which could be easily wielded in one hand. While spears and javelins were certainly used by the Romans in conjunction with their large shields, Paul mentions only one weapon in his references to the Whole Armor of God: the Sword of the Spirit. The sword wielded by the typical Roman soldier of the era would have been the gladius, a short sword with a blade approximately two feet in length. The length and weight of the gladius complemented the use of the scutum, the large shield commonly in use during the first century.

Many commentators have found it curious that a weapon should be included as belonging to a set of armor. In our modern culture, the two seem to belong to different categories. Armor is typically thought of as being any worn item which is primarily defensive in nature, while something which is used to attack the enemy would be categorized as a weapon. However, the Latin root word arma literally means “tools or implements of war” and technically applies to both modern categories of armor and weapons. Similarly, the Greek word Paul actually uses, panoplia, also refers to armor and weapons collectively. Thus, it is not incorrect to include the Sword of the Spirit as part of a set of armor.

A short sword such as the gladius is designed specifically to be easily maneuvered in close-quarters combat. Both Paul and his original readers would have known this. They would also have appreciated the resulting implication that spiritual warfare is a deeply personal thing. One cannot engage in spiritual warfare from a distance. There are no snipers among prayer warriors, only infantrymen.

One Sword to Rule Them All (The Armor, part 16)

I’ve been a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings for nearly as long as I can remember. I was introduced to the Rankin/Bass animated version of The Hobbit back in the late 1970s, and I was instantly hooked. One of my favorite scenes is when Gandalf rescues Bilbo and the dwarves from the Goblin King. The sword Gandalf wields, Glamdring (a.k.a. The Foe Hammer), is featured prominently in this scene. The mere appearance of Glamdring was enough to send the Goblin King into a panic, and Gandalf quickly dispatches the brute and leads the party to safety. This scene left quite an impression on the seven-year-old me, and I’ve been fascinated with swords ever since.

Tolkien’s Glamdring, King Arthur’s Excalibur, and Charlemagne’s Joyeuse are just a few of the iconic swords which have played prominent roles in fiction and/or history.  Once the pinnacle of battlefield armaments, swords continue to symbolize power and authority even to this day. In Ephesians 6:17, the Apostle Paul states that the Sword of the Spirit is the “word of God.” As such, this final piece of the Whole Armor of God would be the ultimate symbol of power and authority.

The use of sword imagery and symbolism in the Bible can get a little strange. The first mention of a sword in the Bible is the flaming sword which “turned every way” to guard the entrance of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24). If a (possibly) levitating sword of fire isn’t odd enough, imagine having a sword coming out of your mouth!

… from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword…

~Revelation 1:16 (ESV)

This bizarre passage is not alone in the “swords for lips” category. A sword is symbolically linked to the mouth numerous times in scripture! If there is a lesson to be learned here, it is that words are powerful; none more so than the very word of God.

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For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

~Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

This idea of the Word of God being alive shares a direct link to another passage of scripture which reveals the identity of the Word to be none other than Jesus Christ himself.

Speak No Evil (The Armor, part 15)

“If you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all.” Countless parents have given this sound advice to their children over the years, but judging by what we hear people saying on TV, on the radio, in movies, and perhaps most appallingly on social media, the advice seems to have gone largely unheeded. Vile words have always been a problem. Paul’s advice to first century Christians sounded much like the timeless parental wisdom quoted above…

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

~Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)

Many Christians grow weary of the seemingly endless stream of profanity that surrounds us today, but the problem goes far deeper than “the F-bomb” and other words which have been singled out as taboo. While vulgar words are certainly things which a Christian should seek to eliminate from one’s own personal vocabulary, the use of otherwise polite language to demean, discredit, or destroy another person is a far more dangerous corruption of the tongue.

Image by ArtCoreStudios from Pixabay 

Let us once again consider the Helmet of Salvation, as represented by a first century Roman soldier’s gear. There is some evidence which suggests that the helmets worn by legionnaires were considerably less standardized than other pieces of equipment. Assuming that to be true, one can imagine that some soldiers would opt for helmets which would provide greater degrees of protection for the head and face. Almost certainly, the original readers of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians would have been familiar with various styles of helmets, including full-face models.

You’ve undoubtedly heard someone speak with their mouth covered. The sound is muffled, and it can be quite difficult to understand what’s being said. This would certainly be true of a soldier wearing a full-faced helmet, but we know that God would not want us to deliver muffled, hard-to-hear messages to the world around us. So how does the Helmet of Salvation affect our speech once we have put it on? The answer, as always, is found in scripture…

Filtered Input (The Armor, part 14)

In my youth, I had a very brief romance with motorcycles. Oh, I still love to look at sick choppers and big bad hogs, but my Honda Trail 70 and I had a falling out which permanently diminished my desire to ever again ride a bike. One of the things I really love about biker culture is the seemingly endless assortment of helmets available. You can create any aesthetic by simply changing from a simple open-faced helmet to a sci-fi themed full-face modular model. Or perhaps you want a more military look: you can choose from simple kaiser helmets or something that resembles special ops gear. The possibilities are endless!

A helmet’s primary purpose is to protect the brain, which is both the biological control center of the body and home to our minds, or thought processes. However, the helmet can protect more than just the brain; the helmets mentioned above provide various levels of protection for the eyes, ears, and mouth as well.  The eyes and ears are vital to our experience of the world around us.  What we see and hear has a huge effect on what we think.  The mouth is very important with regard to how we affect the world (specifically, people) around us.  The Biblical Helmet of Salvation has much to do with both how we perceive the world, and how the world perceives us.

Image by Steven Iodice from Pixabay 

Let’s turn our focus toward the Roman military helmets which first-century Christians would have been familiar with. Some types leave the ears open, while others cover the ears completely.  The advantage to having your ears covered is enhanced protection of the sides of the skull, but it brings with it a serious disadvantage:  you can’t hear as well.

What about protection for the eyes?  Most versions protect the face only with hinged cheek guards, providing good protection on each side, but leaving the eyes open and vulnerable.  Some helmets covered the entire face, leaving just the eyeholes open, which would provide much greater protection. Only small objects that could fit through those eyeholes would pose a threat to the eyes, but along with that protection comes the hindrance of a restricted field of vision. 

Put On Your Thinking Cap - The Helmet of Salvation (The Armor, part 13)

Thus far in our study of the Whole Armor of God, we have established that the Belt of Truth represents salvation by acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior, the Breastplate of Righteousness protects us from the consequences of sin by engaging in good behavior, the “boots” of preparation get us ready to spread the gospel of peace, and the Shield of Faith adds a layer of protection which keeps us spiritually safe, even when all else fails. In this installment, we will look at the Helmet of Salvation.

At this point, alarm bells might be going off in your head. ..

Wasn’t the Belt of Truth all about salvation?

Is the helmet just a repeat of that?

Keep calm and read on, dear reader, because the Helmet of Salvation plays quite a different role in our spiritual lives than the Belt of Truth. We can understand this better by considering the function of the Roman soldier’s helmet, or galea.

Photo by R. Gino Santa Maria

The galea in its simplest form consisted primarily of a skull cap of iron or brass.  Some versions included cheek flaps made of leather or other perishable material, while others sported hinged cheek plates of iron or brass.  Regardless of the material used, the flaps tied together below the chin, both securing the helmet and adding protection for the cheeks, mouth, and chin.  Some models of the galea had a rear neck guard, while cavalry helmets often featured a full faceplate, with only eyeholes cut out.  All versions of the helmet included an inner liner (probably of wool) which provided vital cushioning for impacts.

But what about the spiritual symbolism? Three times in scripture, a helmet is linked to salvation. 

Choose Faith (The Armor, part 12)

I’m not a morning person. Waking up is a process, and my morning routine seems to happen with little or no conscious thought on my behalf. Sit up, put on my oversize fuzzy slippers, answer mother nature’s call, feed the cats, make the coffee. It’s the same every day, and I go through it without even thinking about it.

Or do I?

Even though I may feel (and look) like a mindless zombie first thing in the morning, each step of my routine is the result of a choice. I choose to get out of bed rather than sleeping in. I choose to put on the fuzzy slippers instead of going barefoot. True, going to the bathroom may be the unavoidable result of bodily functions, but I choose to do that before feeding the cats or making coffee. Everything we do is the result of a choice, even for one such as myself who, upon first waking, has more in common with the walking dead than Mr. Rogers.

What is life if not a series of choices?

Choice is an ever-present factor of human life. Nothing that you do happens without your choosing it. You chose your job. You chose what to wear this morning. You chose what to eat for breakfast - or you may have chosen to skip breakfast altogether. You chose to read this article (and I choose to thank you for doing so!). If any of the above decisions were made by someone else on your behalf, then you chose to let them make that decision for you.

As stated in lyrics penned by the late Neil Peart of Rush, “If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.” There is no escaping the presence of choice in your life. It touches everything that you do.