Choosing

Jeremiah 6:16

Thus says the Lord:

Stand at the crossroads, and look,

and ask for the ancient paths,

where the good way lies; and walk in it,

and find rest for your souls.

But they said, “We will not walk in it.”

Like toddlers

being directed

and assisted

to make good choices

Choices that will

set a path

for wisdom - 

The people of God reject

the wisdom of the ages

for a moment of defiance

And, turning their back

on all the hard won battles

of their forebears

they refuse to walk

in ways mapped out.

They choose to forsake

the lessons learned at a cost

to forge their own paths

to who knows where

replacing the promised

rest for their souls

with a weary stumbling 

and searching

to chart

a new and untested route.

Such has been the choice

of people in all ages - 

to forsake the ancient

to make their mark

on a brave new world.

And which of us can say

that we, given the choice

would have chosen

any differently

any less recklessly

preferring to find our own way

than trusting the way

of hard fought wisdom?