Sin And The Art Of War

This is dedicated to Rob (check out his wonderful, thoughtful blog www.robsfobs.blogspot.com Thanks so much for the writing prompt!)

Most of success in anything is showing up. That's Woody Allen. As a writer, it's not the writing that's so difficult, it's getting started and making time for it. Same with athletic pursuits. And I believe so it is with sin. Most of turning away from sin is not in resisting it, but avoiding it. One can resist sin, but if you're in the position of having to resist it, much of the battle is already lost. You are already on death ground, in Art Of War terms. Much of doing what we don't want to do comes from pride, from believing we are beyond temptation. Consider St. Paul -- The thing I want to do, I do not do. The things I do not want to do, I do.

If you know yourself to any degree, you understand some of your fundamental moral weaknesses. To avoid putting yourself in situations where you will no doubt act like an asshole is the first step to wisdom. I think a major component of sin as self-harm. And if you're doing something to hurt yourself, you're separating yourself from others and from God, making yourself dangerous. The good news is you can stop. Go and sin no more. But instead of resisting sin, pushing against inward and outward flaws and temptations, why not avoid them? It's a different way of thinking about the struggle. Avoid the blows instead of trying not to get knocked out. Avoid death ground.

Michelle's Spell of the Day
"Being with people who make you feel alone is worse than being alone." World's Greatest Dad

Cocktail Hour
Drinking jazz suggestion for Easter weekend: Kind of Blue Miles Davis

Benedictions and Maledictions
Happy Saturday!