Seven Deadly Sins. . .

Capital Vices . . .

Cardinal Sins. . .

By definition, these crimes were used to classify the largest of early Christian “No Nos.” Men are fallen. They sin. But THESE sins. . .these seven deadly transgressions, were classified as mortal sins. These sins can’t be forgiven unless you have confessed or performed an act of perfect contrition.

Superbia. . .

Avarita. . .

Luxurua. . .

Inavida. . .

Gula. . .

Ira. . .

Acedia. . .

Luxurua. . .LUST. . .

Lust. . . 

. . .usually thought of as involving obsessive or excessive thoughts or desires of a sexual nature. Unfulfilled lusts sometimes lead to sexual or sociological compulsions such as addiction, adultery. . .

With so many beautiful things in the world, isn’t lust kind of hard to avoid? I mean, when your husband is a 6”2’, sandy haired, barrel chested mess of surfer boy, how can you avoid those moments. . .say. . . when you see one precious, salty drop of sweat fall from his brow as he’s digging around in the garden and want to. . .do something to him. . .with him. . .for him? Is that so sinful? It feels sinful, sure. It feels good.  And. . .well, he’s your husband. What else are you supposed to do with him? Is it not o.k. to want to get it on with your man? Or doesn’t that count? (Catholics, please advise.)

Or maybe the rule is aimed at the other “pretty things” out there in the world. There are the shining, sensual objects that catch our eye and trigger hot, animal instincts. . .Brad Pitt’s body in Troy, Richard Gere’s signature “grab-face, plant meaningful kiss” move, Gerard Butler’s searing love scene in 300. . .it’s all pretty flippin’ hot if you ask me. How am I supposed to not feel a small stir of wanting some of what I’m seeing? Seriously, is anyone that good?

Are any of us “good” enough to not enjoy (at least for the tiniest fraction of a second) the tingle in your spine when you see the most kissable lips being chewed in concentration as some fella mulls over the answer to a question you’ve asked; when you see the strong, solid arms of. . .oh. . . I don’t know. . .the U.P.S. guy? How can you ladies not feel some kind of visceral reaction when you see the tanned, perfectly formed body of some anonymous surfer. . .all salty, sandy and sun kissed?

If you’re me, you just enjoy the moment and leave it where it is. I mean, yes. . .I’m feeling lust. . .but I don’t do anything about it. I don’t launch myself over a conference table and start sucking on someone’s bottom lip. I don’t ask the U.P.S. guy if he’s interested in lifting 120 pounds. I don’t tackle surfers on the beach and start gnawing at the waist-band of their boardshorts. I just admire. . .and for pleasurable little second, I want. But then the moment is gone, never to return.

Is that sinful? Is it sinful to admire something so . . .so . . .delicious?

The weird thing is, is that I’ve never considered myself an overly sexual creature. I spent so much time immersed in Tomboy Town, that sex was never really in the forefront of my mind. It’s more like “Oh. . .yeah. That.” My sexuality always seems to rush up to me on my blind side. . like some kind of rabid Road Runner. . .”Beep beep! You like sex! It’s hawt! Beep beep!” It’s not that I’m not interested, I just have a lot going on. Of course, once my engine gets started, it’s really hard to put me back in the garage. And of course, my husband is the only one who can drive the car, so to speak, but sometimes. . .sometimes. . .

. . .it sneaks up behind you and whispers “Oh. . .mah. . .gawd. . . that guy is sooooo hot. Holy hell.”  Is that little voice punching our ticket for a ride through hellfire and damnation? IS IT? IS IT?

Or are the rules barring the Seven Deadly Sins “rules-rules” or merely “guidelines.” Is it a sin to lust and lust alone or is it a sin to ACT upon the lust?

Since my lustful thoughts seem to pop in and out of nowhere, I’m inclined to believe that it is the latter that comprises the architecture of the sin of luxuria. Since I feel that I have no control over thoughts that just kind of sucker-punch me, I don’t consider the feeling of lust to be the biggest sin.

I think the sin is in the act.

The sin would be making a conscious choice to turn your back on a husband, a boyfriend, a lover .  .  . to break the trust and unwritten agreement you have with someone to love, honor and cherish them. . .to chase after something that may (or may not) subdue that heated wanting. . .to crash yourself into another body that doesn’t belong to you. . .that you don’t belong to. . .to immerse yourself so totally in the moment that you forget the real life that awaits you when the passion has cooled and the moment is done. That is to say – to actually make the effort to go after the object of your lusty desire disregarding the consequences, the feelings of others. . .that has to be the sin. The action, not the feeling. Right? RIGHT?

If not. . .I am so totally going to hell once the season premier of House begins. Hugh Laurie is haaaaaaawwwwwttttttttt. (What can I say? I (heart) House!)

Tee heehee.

xoxo

Pray for me.