Choose Life: An Interfaith Reflection

 In the Torah Moshe calls the Israelite nation to choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19):

הַעִידֹ֨תִי בָכֶ֣ם הַיּוֹם֮ אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם וְאֶת־הָאָרֶץ֒ הַחַיִּ֤ים וְהַמָּ֙וֶת֙ נָתַ֣תִּי לְפָנֶ֔יךָ הַבְּרָכָ֖ה וְהַקְּלָלָ֑ה וּבָֽחַרְתָּ֙ בַּֽחַיִּ֔ים לְמַ֥עַן תִּחְיֶ֖ה אַתָּ֥ה וְזַרְעֶֽךָ׃  

I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day: I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life—if you and your offspring would live— 

According to Moshe, life is found in obedience to the divine instruction, Torah. The Almighty created humanity to enjoy the fullness of life. It starts by filling our minds with whatever is good. Rabbinical tradition teaches: 

בָּרָאתָ בִּי מֹחַ וְלֵב וּבָהֶם חוּשׁ הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה לַחֲשׁוֹב מַחֲשָׁבוֹת טוֹבוֹת וְהִרְהוּרִים טוֹבִים וְלֵב לְהָבִין דִּבְרֵי קָדְשֶׁךָ וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל וּלְבָרֵךְ כָּל הַבְּרָכוֹת בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה טְהוֹרָה

You created me with a mind and a heart, giving me the faculty of thought in order that I might think of what is good and pure, that I might understand your holy Torah, that I might pray to you, and pronounce all the blessings with pure thoughts. (Metsudah Machzor)

Similarly in the Greek Christian writings (NT, Philippians 4:8) is written:

το λοιπον αδελφοι οσα εστιν αληθη οσα σεμνα οσα δικαια οσα αγνα οσα προσφιλη οσα ευφημα ει τις αρετη και ει τις επαινος ταυτα λογιζεσθε

Furthermore, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are worthy love, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, or if there be any praise, think on these things. (Geneva version)

Ideas that are not pure, good, etc. are often found in popular cultures and even in traditional practices around the world. They fill up our minds through publications, television, radio, or from what we saw in the behaviour of others, etc. No one is aware, at times, that their minds are assimilating the wrong information, ideas, concepts, or thoughts; until they show up in our actions: often using "culture" as an excuse. Therefore, it is important what we read, listen, and watch. Islam teaches (Qur'an, Sura 3:114) about the righteous:

يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَأُولَٰئِكَ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ

They believe in Allah and the Last Day, encourage good and forbid evil, and race with one another in doing good. They are ˹truly˺ among the righteous. (Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran)

Feeling our minds with what is good and pure will empower us to do what is good in our relation with others. The Baha'i faith teaches: "Let him do some good to every person whose path he crosseth, and be of some benefit to him." (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá)

When we choose life, we become instruments of Life. We become a source of life to others. We reflect the image of the Creator, the Source of Life. Therefore, choose life; choose to follow the Divine Instruction to enjoy the fullness of life, here and in the world to come.

טו  סוּר מֵרָע וַעֲשֵׂה טוֹב בַּקֵּשׁ שָׁלוֹם וְרָדְפֵהוּ

15 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalm 34