I am writing this after marking some assignments from a group of students. The assignments were about how we make decisions in life.

There are a number of different methods, and we can all recognise them.

There are those who follow 'Mrs Do as you would be done by'; those who think if everyone behaved like them it would be a perfect world; and those who think that we should make sure that do 'the greatest good for the greatest number'; and finally those who think that personal happiness is all that matters.

Each of them can be useful. Each of them has problems. Personal happiness is fine - but at the expense of everyone else? Some seem to think it is alright, but selfishness doesn't make a good society, and we can see that around us. The greatest good for the greatest number sounds fine until you think of the minorities - and could be us.

If everyone behaved like me then perhaps the world would be perfect. On the other hand it may be dull, or worse.

And Mrs Do as you would be done by? It seems fine, until a friend asks you to tell a lie. If you do then everyone else can lie to you. Yet we have to make decisions, some more important than others, and how we decide can really be the most difficult decision.

Making rules for making decisions doesn't help at all. We can all think of times when the rules are bent in order to be fair. So how do we make sure that the decision is just?

Those who have a Faith have much to offer. The life and ministry of Jesus sets the pattern for us to follow. His example was one of love in action, compassion and service.

If we, and those in government, could make our decisions on the basis of loving service of others we won't go far wrong.

Ed Saville, Blackburn Diocese Board of Social Responsibility