Opus 2025-033: Food or Focus

The problem is not the food itself.  The problem is the focus of the eating.

As I came out of the triad of feasting holidays, I seriously asked myself how I did on my addiction to food.  I am a glutton.  Gluttony is listed as a sin.  God has promised to help me with my sin.  That doesn’t mean it’ll be easy or automatic.  But it does mean it’s possible.

The problem is not the food itself.  One of the characteristics of a glutton is that they will keep eating, I guess I should say I will keep eating, even after the food becomes relatively tasteless and I am already full.  Don’t ask me to make sense of it.  Just accept it.

The problem is in my attitude towards the food.  If my focus is on gratification of my sensual stimulation, then there is not enough food in the world to satisfy me.  If my focus is on God himself and living a righteous life, then I have hope.  My current exercise involves not eating food between meals.  It’s a real trial for me.  I find out that as I wake up to the fact that I’m reaching for some morsel, and then pull my hand back that God allows me to find something else to put my mind to.  It means I read more.  It means I write more.  It increases my study focus.  Of course 20 minutes later I’m ready for another snack.  The fact that I didn’t succumb last time makes it a little bit easier to be strong this time.

It is a journey.  I don’t enjoy the deprivation part, but I am greatly encouraged by the increased awareness of the presence of God, a greater clarity of mind, and often more energy.

The refocusing continues.

homo unius libri