This Lent I gave up gum. A ridiculously small sacrifice, right? Well, let me tell you, I’m already climbing the walls. Who knew such a tiny habit could dig its claws in so deep?
I’m not making this sacrifice because it’s an expensive habit or one that’s injurious to my health. It’s just a habit. I knew I’d miss it and that I’d catch myself regularly reaching for a piece. I’m using those moments as prayer prompts. When I feel a little deprived, I pray for those who have actual serious needs.
I also wanted to remind myself that we never know how strong temptation is until we successfully resist it. I know that I’m strong enough to hold on until the urge for a piece of gum passes. So probably I could also wait until the urge to share some gossip or criticize someone has passed. I acknowledge that when I talk about being overcome by temptation, what I’m really saying is that I don’t want to resist it. I’m just looking for an excuse to indulge.
This Lenten discipline also reminds me of the danger of “just once.” Most of the dumb stuff I’ve done in life began with “just this once.” I’ve had dessert “just this once” so often that my doctor had to scold me about my weight. I’ve shot through an intersection on the yellow light so often that it takes effort now to stop. I’ve postponed answering email so often that responding feels like a virtue.
“Just one” sin multiplies so fast. I remember a Sunday school teacher’s illustration. She tied a student’s hands together with a strand of thread symbolizing sin, which he easily broke. Then she made several turns with thread, reciting typical young boys’ misdeeds like swearing, punching his brother, sassing his parents and lying. It didn’t take long for one thin thread to become an unbreakable bond.
Most of our sins are habitual. We don’t plan to go broke. We don’t intend to cause an accident. We don’t set out to commit adultery. Rather, we spend more money than we should — just this once. We have just one more beer. We look at porn for just a few minutes. A habit forms. Pretty soon we’re hiding the credit card statement from our spouse. We’re up late every night looking at dirty pictures, and we’ve been arrested for DUI. Habit is a powerful force.
Habit also lies behind many sins of omission. We regularly dwell so much on our own worries, plans and fantasies that we don’t see or care about the needs of others. We don’t realize we’re blocking the aisle, stealing a parking space or talking too loud on the phone. We observe that strange man in the park talking to himself, but we don’t really see him. We don’t wonder about the availability of mental health care in our community. We certainly don’t look into how we might help.
This Lent I’m trying to use a trivial habit to build good ones. I have two goals. First, I want to be more prayerful. Second, I want to spend less time thinking about myself and more time thinking about the needs of others. Each time I get the urge for a piece of gum, I stop and pray. There’s no shortage of people I always intend to pray for but never seem to have the time to mention. Now they’re linked to my love of Doublemint.
So, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go intercede for Christians in the Middle East. I had onions for lunch, and I’m dying for some gum.
Kathleen welcomes comments. Send them to Kathleen Choi, 1706 Waianuenue Ave., Hilo 96720, or email: kathchoi@hawaii.rr.com.
