Eating sugar is not a sin, but it has many similarities to the experience of sin: You have a desire for it. It feels great during and for a very short time afterwards. After awhile you feel worse than you did before. If you are not careful, you will become addicted to it. The more…
On Spirituality
The Extra Coat in Your Closet Belongs to the Poor
“When someone steals another’s clothes, we call them a thief. Should we not give the same name to one who could clothe the naked and does not? The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it; the shoes rotting in your closet…
Ascetic Motivation
I read in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs that the legendary founder of Apple believed strongly in the benefits of an ascetic way of life. It was something he picked up on during his studies of Buddhism. Living simply and denying physical pleasures kept him motivated to work harder. He wasn’t complacent and he…
Where is the Lamb?
My daughter saw some Easter decorations and asked about the lamb: “Where is the lamb in the Easter story, dad?” In the nativity, of course, there are many animals represented at the birth of Christ. At Jesus’ death and Resurrection, however, Jesus is the lamb. There are no other animals. It was hard to explain…
Sin is . . .
Sin is turning a gift into a possession. Food Money Sex Time People Success All these things are gifts from God. They are good. When we make them possessions rather than gifts, we sin. When we accept them as gifts from God and treat them as gifts for others, we grow in greater unity with…
