Friday, October 21, 2005

On Wanting

Wanting is a tricky thing. I am not sure that it is tricky just because of language, however. When you want things that harm you- such as a second gallon of ice cream when you are fat, or when you want to view pornographic material knowing it will eat away another little piece of you inside, or when you want another line of coke, knowing that it might very well kill your physical body, or when you want another drink- knowing full well your wife might leave you and take the kids, or when you want to cheat on a test, even though you know and believe that it will damage the system and keep you from learning and growing- and possibly get you kicked out of school if you are caught, or when you want a boyfriend or girlfriend just so that you can be validated and have the whole in your soul partially covered- even though you know that "that is not what you really want"- in all of these things and more there is an internal tension. And the language here might confuse but it might also offer the key. What does it mean to want something that will harm you? Do you really want to harm yourself?

2 comments:

Arctic Hal said...

Our flesh (self) continuously wants to FEEL GOOD NOW. The more we feed it the more it demands. If you continue to feed it it will kill you (in some way(s)) in the future.

When you just want another "drink"- whatever that drink is- it is the flesh wanting to "take" in the present time, offering the future as a sacrifice. You will reap future loss for what you take in the present.

It is a good question Joe and almost does seem like a paradox. Self kills self.

But then there is delayed gratification- even in the flesh some people learn the advantage of this but I guess the end result is still so you can gain and get/ take in the future.

I've come to understand these things but have not come to a victorious place. And now that I understand what is happening better (I see my selfishness more now than ever) it's even more perplexing that I don't follow wisdom in this area!

Anonymous said...

what is the reason for wanting? i think that the world would be better if people would stop bitching about stuff they want and just go get it. there is a latin phrase i am quite fond of, as a matter of fact im so fond of it i got it tatooed on my right forearm. " aut inveniam viam aut faciam" roughly translated to i shall find a way or make one....brandon