As I write this, the world is locking down to prevent the spread of Covid19. The number of deaths each day from Covid19 is shocking. Panic buying has wrecked the delicate balance of the grocery supply system and created shortages. Daily life changed in no time at all. Some businesses are forced to close their doors, leaving workers without recourse.  The tension is enough to strain a healthy family. I shudder to think what some people may suffer behind closed doors.

Blessed with an optimistic nature, I know my duty–to breathe peace into others. To tell you the truth, ‘Pollyana’ (as I’ve been dubbed) is at something of a loss. Who am I to attempt lightening spirits when the world is in so much pain? The heartbreak of it all overwhelms me. I track the stats but skip the details. I don’t want to know what Covid19 does to a person. Having a fertile imagination can be a curse as well as a blessing.

And yet…

In my lifetime I have suffered losses so cruel that might have destroyed me, if given the leeway. Perhaps I do have something to give.

You win or lose by the way you choose. An evangelist once repeated this mantra during a sermon I attended. That was years ago, but those words still whisper through my mind. I’ve observed their truth over time. Even the smallest decision changes us and effects the world around us. Every choice, wise or foolish, is a vine that bears fruit. 

There is something deep within the human spirit that won’t give up, even when that would be easier. The present circumstances are tragic and unsettling, but wallowing in gloom won’t help us cope.  Several years ago, I suffered a serious illness capable of ending my life. Living with that uncertainty could have paralyzed me with despair. 

I decided to live anyway. 

Each day that passes is one we’ll never see again. Nor have we any guarantee of a tomorrow. That leaves now, this heartbeat in time to savor. Every moment of every day, we choose the path we walk. Viewed that way, life becomes one long chart-your-own-adventure story. Whatever your challenges, I hope you will remember one thing, my friend.

You win or lose by the way you choose.