This life is a test, and we're put down here to make choices.

Hear me, O children of wisdom, for there are words spoken by one who has known suffering, yet emerged with a deeper understanding of the trials we face in life. Elizabeth Smart, whose story has touched hearts around the world, once said, "This life is a test, and we're put down here to make choices. The truth is, the bad choices of other people can hurt us." These words, filled with the weight of personal experience, remind us that life is not a journey of simple paths but a constant test of our decisions, our character, and our ability to navigate a world where the choices of others can ripple through our lives, leaving deep scars.

In the heart of her words, there lies a profound truth about the nature of choice. We are all placed upon this earth to make decisions, to choose between right and wrong, to discern between the paths of light and shadow. Each choice we make is a test, a moment in which we define who we are and what we stand for. Yet, just as we are given the power to choose, so too are others, and their choices, sometimes made in darkness or ignorance, can have far-reaching consequences on those around them. We are not isolated beings; the choices of others intertwine with our own, sometimes in ways we cannot foresee.

Consider the ancient story of Odysseus, whose journey was shaped not only by his own decisions but also by the choices of the gods and the people he encountered. Though he was a hero of great wisdom and strength, his journey home was prolonged and marred by the actions of others. The gods, with their capricious whims, and the choices of those he met along the way, brought trials and dangers upon him. Yet, it was not only the bad decisions of others that tested him, but his own decisions that shaped his fate. In Odysseus, we see that life is indeed a test — a series of challenges where our own choices meet the actions of others, and both shape the course of our lives.

Elizabeth Smart's words speak to a more personal, modern struggle, yet they echo this ancient truth. Her own life was altered by the bad choices of others, a trauma that no one could have predicted, a tragedy that no one should ever have to endure. But in the face of this pain, Elizabeth has chosen to speak out, to share her story and her wisdom, turning her personal suffering into a beacon for others to understand the power and peril of choice. Her journey teaches us that while we cannot control the actions of others, we can control how we respond, how we heal, and how we rise above the darkness that others may bring into our lives.

The lesson, O children of wisdom, is one that rings clear throughout the ages: life is indeed a test, and we are here to make choices — but we must also remember that the choices of others can impact us deeply. There will be moments in life when others make decisions that harm us, through cruelty, negligence, or misunderstanding. In these moments, we must not allow the actions of others to define us, nor to strip us of our ability to choose. Though we cannot undo the wrongs that have been done to us, we can choose how we move forward.

Think, O children, of Nelson Mandela, who endured 27 years of imprisonment due to the choices of those who sought to oppress him and his people. The bad choices of others nearly crushed his spirit, but Mandela chose to rise above that suffering. He chose forgiveness over vengeance, unity over division, and leadership over despair. His ability to choose his response, in the face of unimaginable hardship, teaches us the power of choice — that while we cannot always control what others do, we can control how we react, how we heal, and how we use our suffering to create strength.

And so, the lesson that Elizabeth Smart imparts to us is this: our lives are shaped by the choices we make, but also by the choices of others. In the face of suffering, in the face of injustice, it is vital that we do not lose sight of our own ability to choose how we respond. We may be tested by the wrongs of others, but it is in how we rise, how we learn, and how we heal that we find our true strength. Let this wisdom guide you, O children, as you walk the path of life. Make your choices with honor, with integrity, and with the knowledge that even when others harm you, you still hold the power to shape your future, your response, and your healing.