Truth and Consequences

Did you ever notice that consequences aren't something we look at very often?  Tv, movies, the internet seem to have only one mode - green for go, go, go.  Ads show us steaming hot fries or pizza with thick gooey cheese but not the consequences of eating too much salt, fat or greasy foods.  Exercise ads target our vanity, but not the consequences of improper footwear or poor form.  I think it's because their goal is to sell a product not care for our health.  But the Church is different.  She cares about the consequences.

Through My Own Grievous Fault

Why does the Church seem to focus so much on sin?  Seeing the Cross makes me uncomfortable.  Thinking of myself as a sinner isn't easy.  Is it just pride?  I don’t think so.  Don’t get me wrong, pride has everything to do with it, but I think there’s more to it.  Seeing myself as worth less because of sin is the lie that whispers shame into my heart.  I'm not worth less when I sin, but that’s how I feel when the spotlight is focused bright on my sin.  As I wrestled with this in prayer, the Lord reminded me of my tooth.  About ten years ago I had a terrible toothache.  It was agony for a few days, but then the pain just went away.  I was relieved and forgot all about it.  Until a dental check-up led to a root canal, which led to two apicoectomies, an extraction, a temporary tooth and finally a very expensive implant.