BECOMING NEW AGAIN

It is so easy to get lethargic about good eating habits, workouts, exercise and the various disciplines of reading, meditation, silence and solitude and such.

Resolutions (New Years or otherwise) last only a short time without strong resolve and strict habits. We must start again and again until our path is straight.

Hermas (middle of 2nd century) wrote, “Listen to me now: stand together in peace. Look after one another, and show concern for another’s needs. By eating too much, some of you have brought sickness on your bodies and ruined them, while the limbs of others, who have nothing to eat, waste away for lack of food… And you who have become old in spirit: you are already dying. Your soft living and constant doubts have brought you to this point. You are enervated by the affairs of daily life; you have fallen into lethargy; you are like old men who have given up hope of regaining strength and expect nothing but to fall asleep… But don’t give up hope. Awake and repent, and you will all be quite new again.”

Becoming old in body is one thing, but to become ”old in spirit” is really a sad situation. Awake and repent is Hermas answer to this dilemma. It is the right answer.

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Jesus