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by Kevin Pauley
Catch the foxes for us -the little foxes that ruin the vineyards-for our vineyards are in bloom. – Song of Songs 2:15 HCSB
Every once in a while we all get the urge to make a lifestyle change. Perhaps we want to lose weight; perhaps we want to eat better or get more exercise. Unfortunately, most people will go for the gusto and make huge, sweeping changes that they cannot sustain.
They will try to go from burger chomping, milkshake guzzling, greasy pizza, finger-licking couch potatoes to vegetarian Olympic athletes in a single bound. After a couple weeks (or days) of this drastically different lifestyle, they understandably give up. Then they live in despair, thinking that their character is so intrinsically flawed that they are doomed to a life of bad habits.
The secret to both lifestyle and spiritual changes is to take things in small increments. Don’t change over to a completely vegetarian lifestyle – just make one meal a week meatless. Don’t start running ten miles a day – just walk around the block after supper a couple times a week. Don’t quit smoking all together – just reduce your smoking by one cigarette a day for the next week. Don’t drop everything and go to seminary – just start attending Sunday school.
It’s the little foxes that spoil the vines. Allowing “small” sins, so-called “white lies” or humanistic thinking patterns in our lives will begin adding up very soon. However, if we allow good healthy thoughts to grow and practice good, ethical, moral and spiritually grounded behavior, these good things will soon begin adding up, too.
So keep tabs on lashon hara (evil speech). Don’t feel like you have to make a stinging comeback every time someone makes a smart remark. Make sure you don’t get into the habit of negative thinking. Take a second and think about the consequences of what you are about to do before jumping into it. Turn the TV off a little more.
On the other hand, put a little more effort to build on your yetzer hatov (good inclinations). Say I love you more. Watch your little girl try to bat a ball for fifteen minutes. Get your wife a flower once in a while (especially when there’s no birthday or anniversary looming). Help out in the church nursery from time to time.
If your wife gets that puzzled smile one time, it will be worth it. If you hear your child’s voice calling “Daddy!” excitedly, you will realize why you are doing this. Piece by piece, line by line, precept upon precept you will be slowly conforming your life to the Master’s. One day you will wake up to the realization that you are a true disciple. You will be a tzaddik in the making. Remember, incomplete improvements are better than none at all.
Kevin Pauley is a pastor and writer. He lives in Illinois with his wife, Lynn, their five children and two dogs. His internet address is Berea.
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