Denzel Washington and Jesus

I am still thinking about the issue of making choices. For some reason this seems to me to be a terrifically important thing to ponder. Why? Maybe because if we think we are just being battered back and forth by other people or other systems' or circumstances will we never become the people we want to become. If we understand that we can have control over our lives, little by little then no matter what happens we will not become victims. We may get battered or betrayed but if we choose, we can remain free.

That aspect of freedom when we choose what we know is right or true or noble was exemplified in a film some of us watched the other night. The film is called "Flight" starring Denzel Washington. Washington's character, a pilot, though in some sense heroic, is also an alcoholic who keeps saying ' I can stop drinking any time I choose'. But he does not stop. At the end of the film he is before a tribunal because it is believed that he was drunk when flying an airplane that crashed. He has denied this but when confronted with the opportunity to blame someone else and get away with it, he finally makes a life-giving choice. He admits that he was indeed drunk. That admission leads to the end of his career, many of his friendships and as well, he heads for a long prison sentence. At the very end of the film we see him speaking to an AA meeting in his prison where he admits to being an alcoholic and even more, says that it is the most freeing choice he has ever made. Though he is in prison, he is finally free in himself.

Another more life-giving example of the freedom of choice is found in the story of Jesus and his temptations. Whatever the truth of the story in historical terms the real issue is that Jesus, fully human as he was, faced life-challenging temptations to misuse his gifts. So the picture is seen in terms of the devil offering various ways for Jesus to use his power to enhance his own agenda and be god in a way that is a betrayal and abuse of God's love. In each case Jesus chooses to reject the kind of power the devil is offering and to choose the way of God. That choice will mean that Jesus is always going to be at risk - people will and do reject him, he can't force people to accept what he says, he can't and won't manipulate people to achieve his ends. Jesus simply does what he believes is right and lives and dies through the consequences.

At the same time I was thinking of a woman I knew years ago. Iris was a beautiful and thoughtful woman who was one of the core people at the l'Arche community where I lived. She had been living in a hostel and we were inviting her to come and live with us. One day after she had spent quite a bit of time with us I asked her if she had decided if she would like to move in. She was quiet for a time and then said, I don't know how to decide, no one has ever taught me how to make a decision. I was totally overwhelmed by this simple statement. But I realize now that it is true, we do need to learn how to make good choices, it is not altogether an innate gift.

So, I guess I am wanting to say that of course making good and life-giving choices is not easy. It requires a certain self-knowledge or at least, the willingness to face myself and it requires courage to live with the consequences. Choices are best made in stillness and that too is something to work towards as Thich Nhat Hanh keeps telling us. But I would guess that most of us have experienced the quiet freedom and peace that came from choices we made that enhanced our journey. 

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