Preparation

What do you do before you make a big decision?  Perhaps you collect some data, review your options, think things over, seek some advice.  Maybe you procrastinate.  You may do some of these things, all of these things, or none.  What about pray?  Do you pray before you make your decision?  If so, what do you pray for?  Guidance? Perspective? Confidence?  Assurance?  Something else?

It doesn't matter.  God will be there, whether the decision to be made is great or trivial, and we shouldn't hesitate to turn to him before making our choices.  I was reminded of this earlier today when I saw the front page of the New York Times.  There, above the fold, was a picture of cardinals at a mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.  The caption of the photo was "Prayer Before Decision."  Though it didn't surprise me that these princes of the church were turning to God before they entered the conclave to choose a new pope, it was still reassuring.

So what about you?  What about me?  What would the picture or pictures be of you, of me, over that caption?

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