Choices must always be made with wisdom and goodwill to enrich life

WHILE recently commemorating the 60th anniversary of our independence, many focused their attention on the significance of independence and the freedom it has brought to our people and nation.

Freedom, or liberty as used interchangeably, has many connotations. However, liberty today is more often espoused as the freedom of choice.

Some interpret that as the ability to do as one wills, and what one has the power to do without respect for moral and ethical values and without taking into account the rights of all involved.

This outlook is so predominant that the law is perceived as an enemy of the human race because they believe it dictates their behaviour and makes them less free.

As human beings, we have the God-given ability to choose. Everything is not programmed ahead of time in us. In order to grow, we have to take steps that no one can take for us.

But it must be recognised that the mere ability to choose is not sufficient to attain real freedom.

In life, we must deliberately and decisively make choices. Often, we don’t have the luxury of time to act. Yet, our choices must be thoughtful and bold to be effective and oriented towards a decent purpose-driven goal.

To make us authentically free, that purpose can only be to fulfil our God-endowed potential and bring our identity to its full flowering.

It should thus be obvious that an understanding of freedom that would encourage us to do whatever we feel is deficient even in human terms.

There are choices that make us less ourselves. For instance, choosing to indulge in actions that gratify our pride, greed and lust; disregard the public interest or rule of law; or to abuse or misuse the responsibility reposed in us would have dire consequences and deprive us of the true satisfaction of the human spirit.

It is incumbent upon us always to be conscious that we benefit from or bear the consequences of our own choices. But when we exercise our responsibility thoughtfully and with wisdom and integrity as individuals or leaders in the family, at school, workplace or business, in society or the nation itself, we create a space for the full blossoming of human life.

RUEBEN DUDLEY Petaling Jaya