Posted on 10/08/2023 1:43:18 AM PDT by spirited irish
A few drops of lust today could add up to an affair next year. A couple of drops of envy tomorrow might add up to a severed friendship next month. A drop or two of ignoring your spouse today can lead to a nasty divorce when the kids graduate and head to college. Just as our greatest seasons of spiritual growth are usually the result of small, daily victories, our greatest moral failures follow seasons of quiet, frequent compromise.
I have an affection for coffee that stems back to childhood. One of my grandmothers used to sip sweet, creamy coffee from a faded red plastic coffee mug. Even just a few drops of lukewarm coffee from the top of her mug were a welcome treat when I was a little guy. That began my love for a rich, creamy cup of steaming java.
Most days, I go through my coffee-making routine without much consciousness of what I’m doing, but one day I noticed something that probably drives my wife insane. I find it nearly impossible to make coffee without leaving a trail of brown drops behind me. No matter the brewing method, I can’t seem to keep from dripping coffee on the counter, the kitchen table, or wherever I land with my next cup of Joe.
What if I simply decided to leave them? For better and worse and sickness and health, and all that, right? A few drops of coffee aren’t such a big deal after all. Most people would never notice them unless they were looking. A spilled cup of coffee would get your attention, but a few drops are harmless. It seems that way, at least.
(Excerpt) Read more at patriotandliberty.com ...
And so goes the concept of sin when detached from the law of karma.
The fact is that we have the fact of interdependenc of all phenomenae.
What seems innocuous can indeed accumulate to become a factor of cause and effect, and there is noting we can do about it but practice the mind that extends awareness of how the world works.And when we know that with wisodm, we learn to dance with the phenomenal world, rather that isolate and retreat from it.
Enjopy your coffee and its array of events. The drips likely feed billions of microbial beings who enjoy coffee as much as you do. So you are doing a good thing.
Once you start letting these images get inside your head, they cause a huge amount of damage. They weaken the entire body, but they mostly weaken the mind and spirit.
I don't blame media, entertainment, and Madison Avenue because they know that sex sells, but men are constantly bombarded with such images, and keeping them out of your mind definitely increases your control over lustful thoughts.
What works for me is that I just avert my gaze. It takes practice, but it works like a charm. The more you practice, the stronger you get.
Power over sin feels great. It feels good to be strong...like a good gym workout.;-)
bkmk
Thank-you for sharing. Self-discipline is the path to virtue and upward growth of soul. Virtue is sorely missing these days.
I agree 200%.
And, yes, it is hard. I was shocked to discover that when I heard certain music on the television I would look at the screen. It was a commercial for a beach resort and there were closeups of beautiful women in bikinis. I was unaware I was doing that. I typically tune out from commercials. But that music had become my Pavlov’s bell.
I think that the more I gain power over such images and even music, the more I see them as a thin, pitiful facade for evil. They are nothing but a lie.
And the truth—as gritty, colorless, and ordinary as it first appears—is infinitely more interesting.
Each time a sinful, worldly thought dripped in his heart, he began to justify it. Rather than run to the Advocate and confess his sin, he let it slide because it was just a tough season.
.....................
^^^^This is the problem^^^^
Great article.
Yes, it’s all about making good choices isn’t it.
I’d hit it.
Yup and being accountable for our actions.
A little Socialism becomes full blown communism quickly.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.