The Courage to Make Decisions

Taking time to decide is sometimes essential for safety. But there is also such a thing as taking to much time. The power of decision is often lost by delaying to long. We should never be too swiftly persuaded in an important decision; but neither should we wait so long that we let life waste away.

Time and circumstances are altered each instant. It isn’t possible to reproduce any absolutely identical set of circumstances. Once we close a door we never open it again on exactly the same scene.

We are never standing still; not even in inactivity. Time will move whether we do or not—each hour, each instant. And even if all the other elements could remain unaltered, the passing days and hours take the: toll from the total, regardless of what we do or fail to do.

But still we must not be pushed into panic or rushed into deciding wrongly, for there are false and foolish steps as well as safe and sure ones; steps down as well as up—all of which further impress the need for a thoughtful approach to all decisions in all that is offered; with faith that the next step will show itself.

We have to start, we have to keep moving; we have to work; we have to make a living, even when things aren’t just as we would want them. Honest, useful work, (even if it isn’t just what we want) is better than inactivity, and may open up other avenues that will lead to what we want. We have to make decisions as they come, as soundly as we can, not being a stampeded, not being rushed into wrong ways, but taking the first sound step we can see— with faith that if we take the first step it will help us see the second. We have to have the courage to make decisions.