You are right where your choices have led you to be

A while back I had to give a talk in sacrament meeting.  I had tried to get it written, but the ideas were JUST NOT FLOWING for my talk at all.  So I went to bed (part of my procrastination/avoidance scheme) to try to get some rest, so I could get up early and finish writing it.

Well in the middle of the night, with the ideas for the talk rolling through my head, I began to become more awake and unable to put the thoughts out of my head.  Then the thoughts started going together into rhymes, and beginning to flow.  So after probably between 15 and 45 minutes of this, I decided to get up and write it down, and keep going along that thread.

So below is the whole poem I wrote.  When I was giving the talk, I was running out of time, and (thankfully) didn't read the whole poem.  I will insert this   >>>>>  where think I began reading it for my talk.

You Are Right Where Your Choices
                      Have Led You To Be

Are our choices consistent with what we SAY we believe
     Or do we lie to ourselves saying we’re on a reprieve
 

I’ll straighten out later, get off of my back
     I know what I’m doing, I’ll get back on track

Have I made my decision about drugs and beer
     Or will I wait to make that choice under pressure of peers

Or Will I allow myself to be in a position at all
     Where at such a crossroads it is so easy to fall

For one bad choice can soon lead to another
     And soon from the jail you must call your mother

A decision made early in life to do right
     Can help you say “No” on that some future night

Make your decision, and to it hold true
     So when presented with things you’ll know what to do

Practice your answer, till you say it without fear
     And that your convictions, to all, become perfectly clear.

Whether or not, that first drink to take,
     We all are the sum of the choices we make.

Because what if the addict never took that first drink
     Would it have made a big difference – Now what do you think?

And are you careful, and selective in people you date?
     Does each one meet standards that you seek in a mate?

Or will you look for her later, the girl for your wife
     Because “Right now I’m just having some fun in my life”

Don’t let circumstances occur while you’re out on a date
     That derail your plans for an eternal mate

Do we consciously act, or are we acted upon
     and blown like a leaf to and fro on the lawn

Does our rudder run deep, holding a course that is true
     With faith, righteous living, and testimony too.

Or are we just rolling and drifting through life
     And wondering why we have struggles and strife
 
>>>>>>>

The commandment are given with a big “Thou shalt not”
     Restrictive they seem, but restrictive, they’re not

For they all lead to freedom, from much sorrow and pain
     Freedom to choose right, then choose right again.

They’re given as guidance, to keep our paths straight
     That if followed we might all end up at the gate

If I am worthy through choices, my choice is still mine
     And it’s not taken from me for some earlier crime

‘Cause even choices we make lightly, we’re accountable for
     Are we awake and on guard when sin knocks at the door?

Do I carry the weight of the sins I’ve committed
     Or give them to the Savior, letting them be remitted.

Ere you left your room this morning, Did you stop to pray
     Or did I even think to stop, and thank God for this day?

A mission is calling – two years – that’s a lot!
     Am I ready? Am I worthy?  Am I going... or not?

The Choice is to serve, or selfish to be
     To serve myself or my brother – it is up to me

Do I cover it up, when I’ve made a mistake?
     Compounding my problems, and new lies to make?

Do I tell the whole truth, when just part will do
     With wisdom the poet said “To thine own self be true”

When I’m far from my home – whether business or fun
     Do I keep all my covenants? Do I remember God’s Son?

Should I pay tithing or not – you know money is tight.
     I’ll wait till next month to make everything right.

You’re right where your choices have led you to be
Is it just what you’ve planned?  Do you like what you see?

As we leave here today, we have choices to make
     Our decisions determine the paths we will take.

Will we hold to the rod, and follow the Savior
     Or follow the crowd, and instead seek men’s favor

If we choose incorrectly, we can make a new choice
     We’ll do best when we listen to the still small voice

Chart your course by the truths of the Gospel so dear
     Stand strong for the truth and be bold without fear

That at the end of our journey, when we each meet our Savior
     May our choices allow us, with Him to find favor.

And as we talk with our Brother, who we long ago knew
     He could say to us in our life’s interview.

My atonement I gave to one and to all
     For you could not protect yourself from the fall

And your sins, you weren’t able to clear from the slate
     Unless on my path you entered through my gate

I committed no sins, but bore the burden of them all
     And such suffering did cause great drops of blood to fall.

The thorns in my head, my pierced feet and hands,
     This suffering I did for the good of man

That they might be able, by following the way
     to make course corrections whenever they stray

To return to our Father, for that is his plan
     To bring to pass the immortality and Eternal Life of man.

The sword pierced my side after all this was done
     These things I did for you, because I am God’s Son

You’ve taken a hold of my atonement for you
     You’ve been selfless in service, and to your heritage been true

Well done my good servant, you’ve shown us your best
     Now lay down your load and enter into my rest,

You strove to do right, and repented of sin
     Your mansion is prepared, now come..., enter in.