“A little sin never hurt anybody.”
These days, I hear or utter such a phrase when I’m offered an extra piece of pie or a second oatmeal-raisin cookie. In earlier times, I think we might all confess I might have meant a little more serious transgression.
No, I am not going to ask you during a meditation to consider your past or present sins, nor am I going down that path myself. I may have a lot of expertise in the ways of sin, but I’m not very good at hell-fire and damnation, accusing, judging, or self-righteousness. I know how that feels and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. Forgiveness is one of the greatest gifts God extends, and dwelling on past iniquities is a waste of time.
Over the years however, I have found a lot of truth in the wisdom that a little sin will shake your trust and disturb your peace more than tremendous suffering. The presence of God grows and grows amidst suffering as long as we keep sin out – as sin gets in our life during times of stress, peace goes out. So when tempted by a little sin during life’s difficult moments ( I mean real sin, Oatmeal – Raisin cookies don’t count) consider not the sin, but the peace and comfort of God that you will lose when you need it the most.
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