Deadly Sins: Pick Your Poison

It is an inherent characteristic in man to be flawed. We err on a day to day basis, making mistakes, tumbling down the road of life, and attempting to fix our faults along the way. But what mistakes do we make most often? What trips us up most of the time? Everyone has a weakness whether it be lust, pride, greed, vanity, selfishness or envy. Our weaknesses and the presence of temptation concerning that weakness will inevitably lead to our fall. Our weaknesses are what we kneel to and those weakness are dependent upon our very nature. A power hungry man won't fall prey to sexual immorality like someone who struggles with lust. A lustful woman won't fall victim to greed, if she isn't afflicted with a greedy disposition. Yet all fall to something.

That is the most important thing to remember, especially while casting our own judgements. Have you ever heard about someone committing some terrible crime and thought to yourself: "How could they do such a thing! They must be a really bad person." Lay down the stone honey. We've all thought this about someone, in some circumstance, but what we fail to realize is "to each his own." Every person is capable of great harm and great evil. It just depends on the circumstance. What's your poison? What are you willing to get down and dirty with?

We have this terrible habit of disassociating ourselves with things we do not approve of. Unacceptable behaviors and actions automatically get filed under "other." We vilify and dehumanize those we don't agree with, all because of our own insecurities. But if we looked a little closer we could see a bit of ourselves in what we object. Dare I say a lot of ourselves? Disassociating ourselves with evil is a very dangerous thing to do. We all have some evil in us and to completely disown it is to run the risk of letting it grow and fester under the guise of our denial. There's nothing uglier than the delusion of self righteous evil. Actions shadier than Christian Grey, but you think you're in the right. Child Boom!

So who are you? What type of person are you? And spare yourself the lies. Don't go off what you think or what you tell other people. What do you do? How do you act? Your actions are the most accurate reflection of who you are. When situations arise and it gets hot in the kitchen how do you perform? Are you cool and calm? Or are you a hot mess? When it's time to do the right thing do you do it? Or do you fail? If we're talking about your weakness then its the latter. There's a bible verse that says flee temptation. I think this is where folks get it twisted. The bible didn't say anything about fighting temptation. God isn't asking you to fight. He said run! Your flesh is weak honey. There's no denying that. So when it comes to your temptations and weaknesses let me tell you the secret to winning. Don't put yourself in the fight in the first place. *In my Michael Jackson, as the scarecrow in The Wiz voice* "You can't win, you can't break even, and you can't get out of the game!" The only way you can conquer your weaknesses is to never give them the opportunity to perform.

If you are a lustful person, don't be visiting folks after hours, talmbout "let's just cuddle"....uh no! If you're greedy or have a problem with money, don't name yourself the accountant of your household finances. No, you cannot be the church treasurer! And if your are envious, stop watching "How I'm Living," "Cribs," "The Kardashians" "The Real Housewives of (whatever)" stop checking for what everyone else is wearing, driving, or who they sexing! This is just going to fuel your envy and in turn have you making bad decisions just so you can "Keep Up With The Joneses". That's the key. First identify your weakness and then stay the hell away from it at all costs. Forfeit and you win.

Unfortunately finding out what your weakness is and then admitting to it will be hard. And It will more than likely take you failing a couple (read: several) times before you realize this is something you cannot fight, something you cannot resist. And that's okay love. You aren't superhuman and no one is asking you to be. Our flaws keep us grounded, humble and teach us a lot about ourselves and others. Embrace falling, embrace failure. The more you know the more you grow! And that's what this is all about, growing into stronger, wiser individuals who don't keep making the same mistakes.

We'll get the hang of it one day. One day you'll know yourself in and out and there won't be too many things that trip you up anymore. You won't be perfect but you will certainly be better off than you are now.

Have faith that you will find your way love.