James Earl Cray doesn’t have a degree in theater or a major that relates to writing, he just writes from the heart.

Cray, an admissions counselor at Troy University, is involved with college students every day. He is aware of the many decisions that young people have to make and the importance of those decisions.

So, Cray put pen to paper and wrote a play that focuses on high school and college youths and how the decisions they make “this day” set the course for their futures.

Cray’s play, titled “Choose Ye This Day,” will be performed tonight at the Trojan Center Theater on the Troy University campus. Doors open at 6 p.m. and admission is free.

“‘Choose Ye This Day’ is about the many opportunities that young people have to make decisions,” he said. “It’s about young people making the proper decisions in high school and college because those decisions affect the rest of their lives.”

The story line includes a college athlete who has to make a decision about leaving college for the professional ranks. It’s also about the decisions the athlete has to make about relationships.

“He has to decide whether a young woman is interested in him as a person or as a basketball player,” Cray said. “The play is all about decision making. I hope and pray that ‘Choose Ye This Day’ will have a positive impact on the students and that they will think seriously about the consequences of their decisions.”

Twelve university students lend their talents to “Choose Ye This Day” and Cray said they do an outstanding job of bringing the importance of decision making to the forefront.

“The cast members all attend the weekly New Beginnings Bible Study held on campus,” Cray said.

“Choose Ye This Day” is Cray’s second play to be performed at Troy University.

His first play titled “With Hope All Things Are Possible” was performed in 2009.

“The first play was well attended and we are looking forward to another successful play with ‘Choose Ye This Day.’ We invite and encourage all high school and university students to attend.”