Guilt, The Uninvited Guest

Posted: October 13th, 2010 Category: Christianity, Common Sense

Guilt is a marquee, game-day message from your tough little voice (the Holy Spirit) who has kicked off a mentally, yet brutally physical assault on the human spirit. These two are arch rivals facing off, one on one, game after game, year after year. The rivalry is not to destroy the human spirit with this assault but in fact to strengthen and perfect it. The stronger the opponent, the better our tough teammate must and will play, if winning is important.

Lacking guilt for wrong doing isn’t necessarily a sign of evil in it’s purest form, but it is often a coping mechanism, employed by the mentally healthy, spiritually ailing, to justify above all else, the aberrant enjoyments offered routinely by our physical world. “I’d rather being doing this, that or the other, because it’s more fun, more pleasurable, more stimulating, more gratifying to me.” Or, ” I don’t have time for that because I need (want) to do something else”. Time or clock management is often used to win games that were designed exclusively for entertainment. The “I” and “me” components of above referenced attitudes have always carried far too much weight while the “we” or “team” benefit is neglected or ignored.

During seasonal holidays such as Christmas we are commercially reminded that the gift of giving holds more promise of pleasure than any gift received. Of course commercially, that type of promotion can be self serving, generally benefitting the makers and sellers of the goods offered for sale, but the idea is none-the-less, right on. When the goods or services offered are from or of the heart, intended to improve life, to lift and strengthen the human spirit, to warm the blues, to promote selflessness or to relax the harried life traveler, they are gifts worth offering. Worth it for both the “sharer and sharees”.

What should I be doing today? Guilt is good even if the actions that unleash it are suspect. When guilt makes an uninvited appearance, extend your hospitality and get to know and learn from your guest, the benefits could easily “go viral” from you to everyone around you.

JC CALKINS with COMMON SENSE 4 UNCOMMON PEOPLE