SMALL DECISIONS

Lately I've been thinking about the cascading effect of small decisions. This month's edition of Discovery magazine has an interesting article. In 1783 a volcano in Iceland erupted, killing 9,000 on the island. But that wasn't all. The resulting cooling that year in the Northern hemisphere affected crops and weather patterns. In Japan alone, one million died from famine. The Nile valley lost one sixth of its population. There had not been a colder Summer for 500 years.
Small decisions are like that. Daydreaming at a stop sign might have either positive or negative consequences, depending on the situation. An unkind word can prevent the start of a life-long friendship. A pattern of repetitive behavior, such as saving just a little money, can result in wealth. There is a lesson here. I may think that what I choose to do today doesn't matter. The reality is that a small decision can have a lifetime of consequences. I have a responsibility before God to make wise choices.