Concupiscence

Scripture

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

~I John 2:16

Quote

Avid curiosity {lust of the eyes} masquerades as a zeal for knowledge and learning.

~Augustine {My Confessions p.212}

Augustine said, and I quote: In addition to the concupiscence {lust} of the flesh, which lures us to indulge in the pleasures of all the senses, there is also concupiscence of the mind, a frivolous avid curiosity. It is a craving, not for the gratification of the flesh but for experience through the flesh. It masquerades as a zeal for knowledge and learning. This temptation is a desire to know and a desire to know first hand; to know before anyone else knows. This concupiscence {lust} of the eyes is what got Eve in trouble. She gazed upon the fruit and became curious. What will it taste like? How will it make me feel? How will it affect my life? The temptation to know {experience} became so strong, she could not resist. Her frivolous curiosity got her in trouble. We don’t have to know! Eve’s life was none the better for knowing; as a matter of fact, her knowing brought great anguish and sorrow to the entire human race.

The main reason I got off of Facebook is that every time I posted, someone got offended but there was a second reason I canceled my FaceBook account; I don’t want to know most of what is on it. I never read anything off FB; I used it only to share info. I don’t watch the news because I don’t want to know. I encourage everyone to confess their sins to Jesus because I do not want to know. I hope and pray that I never get called to sit on another Grand Jury because I do not want to know. By the way, you take an oath to never repeat these things you’ve heard and in the first session, you will hear things about folks you know that you had just as soon not know. June is a reader or a scanner but she never makes a post: she wants to know and share things with me that I don’t want to know.  Sometimes it is about a child in Birmingham get killed by a tree. It sounds bad, but unless I can do something about it, I don’t want to know. My motto is– “Ignorance is bliss”. All this personal data sticks to my mind like ice on the wings of jet. It pulls me down. I know that Saint Jude’s and Children Hospitals are filled with sick children but I like to go as long as possible without having to deal with this heart breaking reality.

I bet some of you are disappointed in me. You thought you could talk to me anytime and I would listen to your problems. I will, if push comes to shove, but don’t come to me until it is the last resort. You need to be desperate when you come to me and don’t show up with your feelings on your sleeve. I am guilty of a multitude of things but I don’t pry or probe into people personal affairs. If you can find someone who says I have, send them to me. Either they are lying or I am losing my mind. This is why Solomon warned people not to eavesdrop. You keep it up and you will hear something you don’t want to hear and your life will never be the same. Be content with what you have and what you know about the personal affairs of others. When it comes to scripture or Jesus, it is a different matter and you can pry and probe as much as you like.

Extra

I went to the hospital to visit yesterday evening and it was 98* and this was at 5:00 PM. It was cloudy when I came home but still 94 at 6:30 with cloud cover. I have to leave Peggy’s room because I was sweating. She keeps her thermostat on 80-85* and that is way out of my comfort zone. Even Joyce had her air running on Wednesday. Thank God for Willis Carrier, the coolest inventor of them all.

Don’t forget to pray for our sick and displaced. We are still cut off from the Terrace but we did get to visit Summerford’s on Wednesday. Willowdean is doing great! Peggy will be moved to a rehab facility today but I don’t know which one. I didn’t see Joyce yesterday; it will probably be tomorrow before I get back but she was a little better. Have not heard from ole Gregg but I am assuming no news is good news. Pray for Vellene and Leona Burden who are isolated at the Terrace. Pray for them to open soon.

Have a good day and thanks for reading the blog.

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