I had only a few long-term goals for myself that I first conceived as a teenager. These were never written as new-age self-help gurus preach–with detailed plans and all that stuff. But they have been a guiding force for my entire life. First, I would never have a “beer-belly”, that is, I’d stay lean and fit. Second, I’d continue to develop my mind for as long as my physical body allowed. Third, my spiritual development would lead to wisdom, that is, I’d gain perspective and insight.
The discipline of the first goal is watching what I eat and exercising. Eat less and exercise more is still the best method of weight loss and toning. As soon as I finish this post, I’m off to the gym for my usual workout.
The discipline of the second goal is reading good books. I keep a list. Whenever someone recommends a good book, I write it down and then buy it. I seldom watch TV (although the Serie A match between AC Milan and Udinese yesterday was entertaining) and seldom read novels purely for the story (although I find murder mysteries to be a great way to relax yet still think). A further discipline is to reflect on the books.
The discipline of the third is continual reading of the Bible and spiritual leaders such as Augustine (St. Augustine if you’re Catholic). This also entails meditation and contemplation.
In this third discipline, I’ve found that the ancient tradition is correct–you will at some point early in your contemplation be shown by God all the sins that you have done and that you are capable of doing. You will experience this apartness from God to the depth of your soul such that you’ll never forget. But then, you will experience the saving grace of God–not as an intellectual concept but as a reality deep within your experience.
I mention all this, because once again I tried to get my small group to see the list of sins that Paul assembled at the beginning of the letter to the Romans in such a way that it applies to each of them. It is too easy to read the list and say, “I’m saved, so I’m past all these. Now I can point my finger at the sins of others and piously tell them to accept Jesus and be saved.”
No, this is an experience that we all need to recall. We are all sinners. We carry that with us. But if we have turned to God and let Him help, then we can also experience grace. Without the first, we’ll never have the second.
Faith Venture 
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