On consent, conscience, and the exercise of freedom

We hear a great deal about consenting adults. And rightly so. Consent matters. It acknowledges that another person possesses dignity, freedom, and the right to make decisions concerning his or her own life.

But consent answers only one question: Did we agree?

It does not necessarily answer another: Was what we agreed to do right?

Hevel—a Hebrew word often translated as vanity, futility, or meaninglessness. But its imagery is that of a vapor, a breath, something fleeting and impossible to grasp. What happens when we mistake the temporary for the ultimate?

Thanksgiving is more than gratitude for what we have received. It invites us to consider to whom our gratitude belongs. Can we be truly thankful without acknowledging the Giver?

To be chosen by God is not to be elevated above others, but entrusted with responsibility. A reflection on calling, stewardship, and what it means to belong to God without claiming God as our possession.