These are funny English words. Words that carry the weight of responsibility with them. When I was in Grammar School (the school where I learned grammar and spelling and handwriting-a long time ago), I learned that “choose” is an irregular verb, meaning “to pick one thing over another.” The word “chose” is the past tense of the word. “Chosen” is another story altogether and I am not going there because I want to visit with the words: choose and chose.  

In the current issue of “The Word in Season,” (“The Word in Season”, October, November, December 2025) there is a meditation on October 11 about how Father Damien of Moloka’i chose to minister to the victims of leprosy in the infamous Hawaiian island colony. I remember reading of his story in high school and being impressed by the courage and compassion that this simple man exhibited for these suffering people. Could I make that kind of selfless choice? 

Father Damien chooses to go to Moloka’i. He made a difficult decision, knowing the probable outcome, yet he moved ahead with God at his side. Because God also chooses to be with him and with us always. He loves us unconditionally always.  

God does have the option to choose not to be with us, however He chooses to always be by our sides. Not because He is obligated, but because He wants to be by our sides to demonstrate that unconditional love that will never change! How wonderful is that? 

Such an example is hard to imitate, but we must. We must in order to demonstrate our love for God and our companion travelers on this worldly walk. I don’t say this lightly. I realize that this is a heavy task, one that is often forgotten or neglected. However, it is one that will bring us everlasting joy in the knowledge that we are imitating the Almighty, All-loving God. It is one that I can make with God at my side. 

Choose to love.  

Terri