self indulgence will kill us...

Self Indulgence

 

… often comes from some past unmet needs, but abides in filling bottomless voids…

 

… originates and stays within self…

 

… ranges from the arrogant to the neurotic and even the desperate…

 

… cannot see the good in delayed gratification, self-control or sacrifice…

 

… gladly trades long-term success, fulfillment and health for momentary pleasure…

 

… routinely sacrifices deep, abiding joy for fleeting happiness…

 

… can be amusing to others, especially those like-minded, for a time, until some deeper need goes unfulfilled because of the self indulgent in their lives…

 

… masks, delays, ignores inevitable truths that one must face, often complicating the difficulty of those truths when one finally does face them…

 

… eventually represents a losing battle with others and within oneself because the sources of pleasure, no matter how they are elevated, cannot bring deep, abiding joy in life for anyone…

Lust for Power and Control backfires on us

Lust for Power

 

… comes from within, but is focused outward…

 

… takes our focus off self-control and puts it on control or power over others…

 

… comes, not from a place of humility, but one of arrogant hubris…

 

… sets up win/lose and above/below, we (I) /they dichotomies…

 

… is an illusion – a costly, hurtful and divisive illusion…

 

… does not draw people together toward a common good, but alienates people from one another out of frustration and defensiveness…

 

… seems to work for others, to get them what they want, but never to work for ourselves fully, which allure draws us into the illusory trap…

 

… takes us out of the realm of equal interaction, cooperation and community…

 

… eventually alienates us from the affection, admiration, cooperation and respect of others around us…

 

Greed will own us...

GREED

 

… comes from within and forces us further inward…

 

… causes us to de-value relationships, because –

That for which we are greedy demands our total devotion…

 

… makes us believe that it is serving us well,

But in actuality demands that we fully serve it…

 

… deceptively makes us believe it can be a force for good,

But it always hurts those around us – there is always

A cost to be paid by those exploited by it…

 

… puts enmity between us and god, others and self –

Because it alone must be served…

… renders us un-thankful, un-grateful and dissatisfied…

… eventually consumes us and everyone around us…

 

COMMUNITY

It is sad, really, what passes for community. I have been present when people came together powerfully to benefit EVERYONE, equally. I have gathered with groups that honored everyone's opinion, where there were no "outsiders" or "insiders", because people were gathered for a common purpose... where people did not see theirs as the only "valid" opinion, but listened to all present in order to come to a concensus that would work well for everyone, equally... I have been with folk who truly believed that the wealthiest and poorest neighbors were equal in value, and that the voices of those who were newest and oldest were ALL of equal value. But I have lately seen a different world, in which some have decided that they are better than others based on one thing or another, and then vilify others in an attempt to discredit them, so that they can get what they want at their expense. I have seen the new group in power, same as the old group in power... the freshman class of the same old clique... run roughshod over the rest of the community, deciding before the public discourse and limiting the public discourse in order to get what they want... bad talking whoever stands in "their way" of benefitting themselves and their personal interests. I went to a neighborhood meeting, not too long ago, at which the people came together "with one heart and one mind" and decided to purchase a piece of land on which a bank had bulldozed their community garden. Eight people put up the almost $10k to buy this land, not for themselves, but so that EVERYONE in the neighborhood could have a garden plot. It astonished me, the SPIRIT in that room when it was discussed... how those who were not of the same opinion were heard with respect, how people verbally offered their respect for folk who did not see it the same way, and how the people rallied to support an effort. That is COMMUNITY. Often today, people want to "be" the best, in whatever terms that means for them. They find like-minded folks who see themselves as being "better" than others, and convince themselves that they are "the best". Others strive to DO THE BEST for everyone, equally, to BE COMMUNITY. My dear friends, it is noticed. People see the dynamic at play. People smell the something rotten going on. People recognize it when they see TRUE community, and see what ulterior motives drive others to set up "fake" communities in order to benefit themselves. The soul of a community gets lost when the selfish, falsely "elite", greedy and power hungry take control over others. Unfortunately it is not only they who are affected by the death of the community's soul. It is the children, elderly, most vulnerable and average folk who want to BE COMMUNITY who are hurt by it most. Pastor Jamie