The economy seems to be solid and slowly growing.
Advances in readily available technology have given us a growing variety of
options for how each of us can focus our lives more and more on material
things. I remember a friend of mine telling me that for years he had not
been able to park his car in their garage because of all the non-automotive
clutter.
So, we are presented daily with more and more ways to satisfy
our personal appetites, and even to develop new appetites. Is
there an upper limit? For some, it is simply the limits of time and
money. For all of us, however, there remain choices to be made. One
of the choices always is to skip some particular material temptation, or
not. Whether that will be a hard-to-make choice depends on the extent of
our self-control. Putting it another way ----- when are we willing to try
some self-denial?
What are "self-control" and
"self-denial"? Are they not the same thing when we are
facing "temptation"? A popular definition of both terms is:
to exercise the ability to override impulses
in favor of longer-term goals. The heart of the
problem seems always the same ----- the conflict between short-term rewards (which
we seem hard-wired to greatly value) and longer-term goals (which
often seem to have no present value ----- only a future value). A
slice of just-baked apple pie placed right in front of us, in other words, is
simply a lot more compelling than a long-term desire to be slim.
But our abilities for self-control and self-denial must be
kept strong. There will always be times when we need them. We
understand that one cigarette, or one more glass of wine, or just one hour of
procrastination, will have no material effect in the long run. Except
that, the first exception may lead to another, and eventually we find ourselves
in some place we never intended to be.
Fortunately, conscientious practice of our Christian faith
could reinforce our ability for self-control and self-denial. It helps us
find the necessary balance that each of us needs in our daily lives.
We were not the only ones who needed self-control and
self-denial. Jesus was able to demonstrate and strengthen his
self-control and self-denial by fasting in the desert for 40 days. The
Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke describe his 40 days of fasting before the
beginning of his public ministry. During this time of fasting, Jesus
endured temptation by the Devil. Indeed, sometimes don't we feel
we are being tempted by the Devil as we attempt some kind of self-denial !
But, more importantly, the attitude of Jesus during his
gruesome crucifixion, is perhaps the greatest story of self-denial in human
history.
Importantly, one way to control our personal appetites is by
giving ourselves to the needs of others. Giving of ourselves to
the needs of others is actually another form of self-denial ----- denying
ourselves of the luxury of just coasting through life.
The strengthening of our own discipline for appropriate
denial of appetites and the giving of ourselves to others are so important to
Christians, that long ago we adopted an annual period of reflection on the
nature of Jesus Christ's self-denial sacrifice. We call this time Lent.
We observe Lent for the six weeks leading to Easter Sunday. This year
Lent extends from Ash Wednesday on March 6, to Easter eve on April 20.
During Lent, believers prepare themselves for Easter by
paring down their lives through fasting, giving up luxuries, showing penance
for their sins, and "giving alms" (donating money, time and talent to
charities, or taking part in charity events). All of these actions
are forms of "denial of self".
Ash Wednesday derives it's name from the practice of placing
ashes on the foreheads of worshipers as a reminder and celebration of human
mortality, and as a sign of mourning for Jesus' sacrifice and our repentance to
God. Ash Wednesday is not only a day of fasting, but also a day of contemplating
one's own self-centered transgressions ----- a day of repentance. The
first day of Lent (Ash Wednesday) comes the day after Shrove Tuesday or Mardi
Gras ("Fat Tuesday"), the last day of the "Carnival"
season, famously celebrated each year in New Orleans. The day before Ash
Wednesday, therefore, in popular lore, is the last day to indulge in the vices
and luxuries one has planned to give up for Lent.
Abstinence and fasting during Lent is a form of penance, but
we also need to use this time to reflect on and take stock of our own spiritual
lives. Perhaps Lent is not just about "giving up things".
It may be a good time to begin practicing some new, longer-term, positive
attitudes, as well as denial of some of the material values and
appetites our modern secular culture makes seem so appealing.
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These thoughts are brought to you by CPC's Adult
Spiritual Development Team, hoping to encourage you to pursue some
personal spiritual growth this Spring at CPC.
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