«Therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live» (Deuteronomy 30:19).
EDWIN BOOTH’S NAME is not familiar to many today, but for a good part of the nineteenth century this American actor was famous, not only in the United States, but also in Europe, especially because of the masterful way he represented Prince Hamlet, in William Shakespeare’s well-known work. According to critics of the time, no one was better than Edwin Booth in depicting the theatrical tragedy. In fact, a statue of him depicting Hamlet is located in Gramercy Park, in Manhattan, New York.
What Edwin Booth never imagined is that the tragedy, which he so masterfully represented on the boards, would also accompany him in real life, for it was his brother, John Booth, also an actor, who murdered President Abraham Lincoln. The impact of this event was so difficult for Edwin that, according to Paul Aurandt, that fateful night in April 1865 there were actually two murders, that of Lincoln and that of Edwin’s artistic career.
Why do we remember Edwin Booth’s name? For another singular fact that also marked the life of this actor, but in a very different sense. Before the tragic Ford Theater event, in which his brother murdered President Lincoln, Edwin was at the train station in New Jersey, when a young man lost his balance and fell onto the rails as the train approached. With a quick move, Edwin grabbed the boy by the suit and saved him from certain death. Although Edwin did not recognize the young man, the young man recognized him. Weeks later, the famous actor received a letter from the president’s office, thanking him for saving the young man’s life. The name of the boy Edwin saved? Robert Todd Lincoln, son of President Abraham Lincoln.
What a curious circumstance! John Booth takes the presidents life, Edwin Booth saves the president’s son. One chooses death; the other, life. Strange, isn’t it? But it is not a unique case: Remember Cain and Abel? Saul and David?
Judas and John?
How can two people, with the same opportunities in life, take such different paths? Today’s text answers: God has put life and death before you and me, but it is up to us to choose. The desire of our good heavenly Father is that you choose life today, «that both you and your descendants may live.»
Thank You, heavenly Father, for giving me the power of choice.
Today I want to choose Jesus Christ as my Savior, because He is the way, the truth, and the life.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2022
“GREAT IS OUR GOD!”
From: FERNANDO ZABALA
Collaborators: Xiomara Perdomo & Angelica Cuate
