Will This Spaghetti Make Me Restless?

Chapter 6: Of Inordinate Affections (Too much of a good thing).  

Today, Thomas tells us an obvious truth:  that if we eat too much, we will get indigestion; that if we drink too much alcohol, we will suffer a hang-over; that any blessing can be perverted into a curse.  The root of the problem lies in controlling our desires:

1. Whenever you desire more than you should reasonably expect, immediately you become restless. The proud and the self-interested are never at rest; while the poor of spirit and humble of heart abide in peace. Whoever is not wholly dead to self is soon tempted, and is overcome in small and unimportant matters. It is hard for the weak in spirit, especially those who are still in part of the carnal and inclined to the pleasures of the flesh, to withdraw altogether from worldly desires. When withdrawing from these inclinations, he is often sad, and easily angered too if anyone thwarts his will.

From here, good Thomas tells us how to get out of our self-dug hole:  resist these passions by filling your desires with fruits of the Spirit rather than worldliness.

It is OK to enjoy a thing so long as desire for that thing does not turn into an unhealthy desire - be it for more spaghetti, more ale, or more sex, more ______ (there's more to the list...just think of your favorite sins and fill in the blank). 

God does not have laws against charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generousity, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.  Of these we can have as much as we desire.  Let our passions be for these fruits of the Spirit.

2. On the other hand, if you yield to your tendencies, immediately you are weighed down by the conviction of your conscience; for you have followed your own desires, and yet in no way attained the hoped for peace by yielding to these temptations. For true peace of heart is to be found in resisting your passions, not in yielding to those passions. There is no peace in your heart when you are focused on the flesh. Nor is there peace for you who are given up to the things that are outside of you. Peace rests with you who are fervent towards God and living the life of the Spirit (see Gal 5:16-25).

Thanks for praying along with me,
'til next time, be Imitators of Christ!

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