Thoughts from here and there…Healthy Choices
He looked a bit confused, walking back and forth in front of the frozen entree food section at Pick and Save. I couldn’t help but stop and observe as he opened first one door and then another trying to decide between the perplexing numbers of choices that were available.
Have you ever stood there and seriously considered the choices between: Banquet, Marie Callander’s, Healthy Choice, Weight Watchers, Lean Cuisine, Stouffers, Gourmet, Swanson, and On-Cor, among others? I mean these are just brand names. The brand names do not begin to communicate the extraordinary variety of choices.
The man finally made a decision. He reached in a removed a Healthy Choice entree. I do not know what kind it was. He felt, perhaps, that he was making a healthy choice.
I could not help but question the name of this food product, “Healthy Choice.” I mean we are people who, because of time and circumstances, feel it necessary to use what is provided us. Frozen entrees are available in abundance. I think we will admit that they are not the healthiest of choices. They contain a lot of additives and preservatives that are not present in food cooked from scratch. Don’t take me wrong here I am not trying to make anyone feel guilty. There have been times when Helga was gone, and I have eaten a prepared or frozen entree.
In this situation, the thought occurred to me, “Is there a similarity between standing in front of the frozen entree section of a super-market selecting a dinner and standing in the midst of life and attempting to make healthy choices?” How do we make healthy choices, anyway?
The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Phillipian Church in which he emphasized how to experience “joy” or “rejoicing in the Lord.” This word or phrase appears sixteen times in his letter. There were perils to watch out for which were not that much different from what we face today. The church had many enemies. There was danger in a self-seeking attitude and of pride, both of which could divide the people or cause great personal unhappiness. Paul concludes his letter with a few words that sum up how one may make healthy choices.
“Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you,” (Philippians 4:8-9, NRSV).
The Christian faces a vast array of choices. Each source attempts to establish its claim to our decision-making processes. We need to investigate and evaluate well before we choose. Paul’s words provide a sound basis for measuring the potential harm or benefit of every choice.
Healthy choices. let’s make healthy choices for ourselves and for the benefit of others.