Our Moments of Choice | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Our Moments of Choice | Previous Challenge Entry
By Judy Sauer
01/22/15
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Our Moments of Choice

Gluttony…it is not only about food. Its covetous tentacles have far reaching expanse. Where we spend out energy speaks volumes about what we consider to be most important in life. I often do not like what I see based on my decisions in the moment of choice. This makes me wonder about the underlying root causes. At least for me, my root causes are plural. How about yours?

Most likely, many of us have experienced it: those moments of choice when we fall prey to the evil one’s lies and deadly stings. I am guilty of falling for his deceit and feel foolish every time he gets me to do the very things I no longer wish to do.

For some, it may be the endless sneak eating. Who are we fooling anyway? Others steal away from bed to get a late night snack, without judgment of others, because they are hungry.

What are we hungry for anyway? Is it genuine hunger for food? Or might it be severe dehydration and starvation from not turning to God when we are tempted? Have we ever pressed life’s pause button to discern what is driving our gluttonous actions?

The suckers on our greedy tentacles hold us hostage to things. What we can overindulge in, or suffer from overconsumption in, is an endless list of impulsive behaviors. It might be food, or smart phones that actually make us dumb for wasting precious time we cannot get back, or when we have amassed a huge collections of shopping bags still full of items purchased because of a shopping addiction. These obsessions are unable to restore our inner peace. They feed on each other and perpetuate an endless cycle of disaster of REPEAT, REPEAT, REPEAT.

Also consider these nasty bugs of gluttony. Are we permitting technology to keep us living in silos? Do we have more Facebook friends than one-on-one live relationships? Might we be suffering from endless gorging to stuff down anger, fear, and hate?

Why do we resort to actions that we cannot control rather than allowing God to handle what is within his control? Going to God in these moments of choice is our best and first line of defense—should we be wise enough to accept this reality. Raise your hand if you too play ostrich on this point. Both of my hands are flailing and I know others are in the same rocky boat with me.

It is a new year and, although resolutions that many people make are perhaps already gone with the wind, it is the perfect opportunity to start all over again. That is the beauty of God’s abundant lovingkindness.

Each day, every moment, is our chance to let it go. “Let it go” is a catchy tune from Disney’s newcomer, Frozen. How fitting of the image of being stuck and unable to move, as if we are frozen to make positive choices in our lives.

To let it go requires us to sever our gluttonous tentacles and reexamine what we value most: our precious relationship with Christ. This is naked to the human eye because it dwells in our hearts. Push aside the empty ice cream cartons and countless shopping bags. Instead, focus on the quietness in our souls. How are we to remain calm when things do not go our way? Be still, quiet, and pray.

It is in our visible actions witnessed by ourselves and others. They may be inquisitive of what jumbo juice we are drinking or name that anxiety drug because they need to be free of gluttony themselves. This is the perfect time to share your God story. Be a shining beacon of hope so others can be free from the gummy tentacles of gluttony—just like you are working on to achieve.

This is non-fiction.

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