Wise Choices

Making decisions is often difficult. We struggle with choosing which road to choose, especially when different options have both good and bad in them. In "Wise Choices: A Spiritual Guide to Making Life's Decisions," Margaret Silf attempts to offer a roadmap for navigating the rocky road of decision-making, all the while acknowledging that we have to do the navigating ourselves. Silf states that "the aim of this book is to help make the task of choosing less stressful, more focused, and more fruitful."

"Wise Choices" is divided into five sections. "Clearing the Decks" discusses the importance of some choices versus the insignificance of others. Some choices really are not ours to make at all. "Starting Where You Are" encourages readers to be true to themselves and accept where they are in life. "Reading the Signposts" assists in helping to see the signs and wisdom that surround us. "Choosing for the Best" aids in turning compromises into decisions that reflect the best in us. Lastly, "Seeing it Through" offers help in carrying out our decisions and knowing when to turn back and reverse course.

"Wise Choices" is a very readable little book. It offers an abundance of practical wisdom. A person following Silf's suggestions would no doubt be in a better position to make well-rooted decisions. Yet it was disappointing that this "Spiritual Guide to Making Life's Decisions" made no mention of prayer which is the most important decision-making tool there is. Pray first and always and then read "Wise Choices;" you will have all the tools you need to make important decisions in your life.

Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur is editor of Spiritual Woman and author of "Letters to Mary from a Young Mother" (iUniverse, 2004). She has a Master of Arts Degree in Applied Theology from Elms College. Visit her blog at http://spiritualwomanthoughts.blogspot.com