Unexamined life is not worth living.
~ Socrates
All Should Make Time for Reflection
I will be turning 50 years old in a few months. Taking time to reflect and pause isn't new to me, but as I turn a quarter of a century in age I do choose to reflect on my past more and more these days. I feel blessed that I have the time to spend on being thankful for God's gifts and to also forgive mistakes made by me and others.
As I look around me, I wonder what has become of our lives these days. Raising children starting in my early 20's until my early 40's, life was hectic and busy. I will say that I am thankful that my children weren't raised on a steady diet of television and high fructose corn syrup. While I did give in once and awhile to a Sunday morning donut run and Saturday night with a movie from the library or local video rental, I chose to give my kids as wholesome an upbringing as I thought necessary for their proper development. I was picky, some might say, but I was also able to adapt and change to their needs. Negotiations took place and happened when appropriate.
Society Seems Sick and Twisted These Days
Since I turned off the television in 1990, I have been shocked at various times in my life afterwards when someone is watching even a commercial. The overt, glorified sex and violence in the media becomes an embarrassment for me while everyone else has seen so much that no one even considers this taboo anymore. Sad really.
What does that say about society? Are we just a bunch of watchers that no longer participate in life but just sink into the comfort and reliability of our screens. It's safe. The characters "live" in a way that we never would, and we get to laugh at their stupidity or lust at their unattainable beauty.
The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions
Without introspection, how will we know if we are just sailing along or participating in life?
I think a lot about my relationship to God, the Father, and Jesus. It wasn't always something that I have done. It has been a long and winding path with many detours that have always brought me back to Christ. I feel very lucky and blessed. Don't get me wrong, I have made a million and one mistakes. I still have so much to learn even today. Maybe that is why I am focusing on the "7 deadly sins." I can focus on just these four important obstacles that keep us away from our heavenly Father.
Here they are listed below:
link to Hieronymus Bosch's "The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things"
Seven Deadly Sins
- Lust
- Gluttony
- Greed
- Sloth
- Wrath
- Envy
- Pride
The question for me would be, "How do these show up in my life?"
Since this is a personal journey, I won't go into much detail right now. I will tell you that the technique that I have been using for the past few years is to just watch my cyclical thought patterns and then asking the question: How does this serve me?
I do hope that you are able to spend a little down time for reflection each day. Even a few minutes before bed to just recap the day's events. Why not learn from your mistakes, as small as they may be, to then make improvements the next day?
Right now I am going to ponder which of the seven I will elaborate in my next essay. Not only will I address my own life's experience but I do want to bring in the bigger picture of how these sins are portrayed and even presented as worthy goals in life. I see the signs all the time and would like to write them down and even discuss more in the comments section, if you so desire.
In the meantime: Have a blessed New Year!! May your coming year be full of love and good works.