I is for I

Rummaging through the alphabet the other day, it occurred to me that only a couple of letters can really stand on their own as actual words. The first letter A is probably the most obvious but the other that readily springs to mind is the letter after H. In trying to write this particular blog, one is very aware that one has probably used this letter in its stand alone form on every single past writing so the desire will be to try and avoid using it in this current script to describe myself. One hopes that one doesn't slip up along the way.

The letter itself is really expression of one's ego and though that is perfectly acceptable to talk about things in terms of self, it is probably viewed somewhat differently when the ego becomes inflated or when self appears more important than possibly it should be. However we live in a world where ego or self has become increasingly important in almost every life, often to the detriment of others. People live for today, allowing tomorrow to take care of itself, they live for the 'now' in life, feeling that life owes them something and they are determined to get it before someone else does. When you stop to think about it for a few minutes, you might care to consider how often you use the ninth letter of the alphabet in your everyday conversation or in your thoughts and it will probably amaze even the least selfish person just how self centred we all really are.

We all have our own opinions that we like to express, we think of how the decisions of others affect us, we worry about our finances, our health, our jobs, we think of the wrongs people have done to us, we crave after certain things that we think we need, we imagine ourselves in the big houses, driving a certain car, having as cetrtain wife or husband, setting aside some 'me' time and I suppose constantly comparing ourselves with others. Individually, the message is very clear. Ego is important to everyone and quite rightly for one of the greatest causes of depression is often a lack of self esteem or self worth and if we can't at least love ourselves even with all our imperfections, it can be even more difficult to love others and ignoring their blemishes.

One read with interest this week that the Vatican has announced seven new deadly sins relevant to the modern day. These include such things as 'becoming obscenely wealthy', 'genetic modification', 'causing social injustice' and 'polluting the environment', but one can't help but think that they have missed the point for in truth while individuals may be involved in all of those things, each is hard to pin the blame on just one person and so the idea of self being at the root of the problem is slightly diluted. Yet if your read through the original seven deadly sins which list as sloth, envy, gluttony, greed, lust, wrath and pride, a clearer picture of the root of almost all our wrong doings is evident - a self centred approach to life.

This selfishness often negates the need to have any dependence on God or at least to reduce our need of Him in life, creating a world of people who are self sufficient and can manage their own lives and destination. God clearly has a different view for without His salvation we have our final destination will be not as we had hoped. The story of the wealthy farmer is a lesson to us all as he pulled down his barns, built larger ones and decided to enjoy himself. The problem was not in having a good time and enjoying the fruits of his labour but in how he excluded God completely from his plans. It is interesting to not that he uses the ninth letter or the word 'my' over ten times in the short story we read. Doesn't that say it all?

But let's not get completely despondent for there is more time when we should be completely selfish and that is with regards to our souls, for nobody else will give account before God of the life you have lived except yourself. As we reflect on this Easter weekend of God's great love and sacrifice for us, let us draw near to that bets known verse of John 3 and 16 which says 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' And for the word 'whosoever' read the letter 'I'. Now that's a time when one is happy to use it.