What is the point in indulgence and pleasure if you’re just going to feel guilty about it later? Regret. Self judgement. Shame.

The latter guilt is the fly in the ointment.

Enjoy life. Work hard. Play hard. Have a sense of humor. Simply don’t become enslaved by anything except love, life and the truth.

Laugh at yourself. Laugh at your predicament
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Demonstrate grace, love and mercy to all. Including yourself.

This uncertain life is a terrific gift. Even pain, as much as we try to avoid it is a great gift.

Don’t believe me? Imagine, truly imagine, floating through outer space in silence. No pain. No pleasure. Just floating in nothingness for evermore. Not for a few hours but for all eternity. I think the Bible calls this the abyss and even the devils didn’t want any part of the abyss. They had rather have been cast into the unclean swine than to be cast into the abyss.

As hard as our temporary pains are to bear here, even these temporary painful valleys are better than nothingness.

As well, how would one enjoy or know pleasure without pain?

Food…

We indulge in it because it’s a pleasure to do so. Especially here in our culture and country. Yet, we indulge so frequently and out of compulsion for so long that this pleasure is reduced to nothing but habit that comes with a side item of pain. As well as regret, guilt and shame. The fly in the ointment.

Isn’t life better enjoying everything in moderation? Work hard so you can play hard.

A little pain so you can enjoy pleasure again.

The pain of daily self discipline weighs an ounce while the pain of regret weighs a ton.

The very thing that was killing me, food and then later alcohol, became a compulsion. I became enslaved and those things I once enjoyed no longer gave me pleasure but immense pain.

I love our work hard, play hard philosophy at Shibboleth. Perfect days. Holidays. Enslavement to Christ; love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance and faith. Striving to end judgement, guilt, regret and shame.

There’s so many things in life to enjoy instead of life being tedious and tasteless.

Isn’t it time to remove the fly from the ointment? It is for me. At least I’m working on it.

My faith and trust are in Jesus and grace. Redeeming the time. Jesus alone is my compass, guide and friend.

My testimony, Saturday, June 18, 2022