So please do not give up on yourself. You are not late, you are right on time.

So please do not give up on yourself. You are not late, you are right on time.
Reflections on Psalm 1: A Choice We Make Daily
Psalm 1 presents two distinct paths: the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. However, the psalm is not about dividing people into opposing, fixed groups but about the choices we make. Every day, we decide which path to follow, and if we fail to recognize that we are making a choice, we risk choosing wrongly.
Rather than seeing ourselves as part of a righteous "us" against a wicked "them," Psalm 1 challenges us to consider the kind of person we are becoming. The opening verses describe an individual—the singular person who chooses to follow God’s ways. While some translations pluralize this concept ("Happy are those…"), the original Hebrew speaks of a single person making a choice. This choice defines whether they align with righteousness or are swept into the collective path of the wicked.
In the first three verses, the righteous person is not initially labeled as such but is identified by their actions—by what they avoid and, more importantly, by what they embrace. Instead of following the advice of the wicked or joining in their ways, they find joy in God’s instruction, meditating on it day and night. Their strength is compared to a deeply rooted tree, flourishing by streams of water, bearing fruit in its season.
In contrast, the wicked are likened to chaff—light, scattered, and without lasting purpose. Unlike the firmly planted tree, chaff is directionless and easily carried away by the wind. The wicked begin as a collective, following the crowd’s influence rather than seeking individual wisdom. Their path ultimately leads to instability and, in the end, disappearance.
Yet righteousness is not about isolation. Though the journey begins with an individual decision, it leads to community—the congregation of the righteous, watched over by God. The goal is not solitary virtue but belonging to a people shaped by God’s guidance.
Psalm 1 reminds us that each day offers a choice. The righteous path begins with personal commitment but leads to a greater purpose—a life rooted in God, part of a community shaped by His wisdom. The alternative is a life driven by fleeting influences, leading to an eventual fading away.
As a new month begins, Psalm 1 invites us to reflect: Which path will we choose today?