Worldly Desires

What do you desire?

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, because you have conquered the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young people, because you are strong and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live for ever. - 1 John 2:12-17

One of the lessons of this past year may turn out to be a greater appreciation for the things that are not of this world.

So much of our routine was disrupted, with so many day-to-day rituals abandoned, that we have had to make do with empty hours and limited interactions.  The worldly things we enjoyed and strove for were not available to us.

But did it bring us closer to God?

According to John, our choice is to love God rather than love the things of this world.  What better time to be able to focus on that love than during a pandemic, when all of us are afraid for our lives, shut out of the world?

So, maybe that is what we should be doing, focusing on our love for God and God's love for us.

Maybe we will find the things of this world are not that desirable after all.

More to come...