Temptation

Okay, so here's a quote from C.S. Lewis I read today, something that puts the whole idea of being tempted into perspective.

"Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is... That is why bad people know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in. We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it."

Maybe it's just the wonderful guilt-ridden childhood that makes me feel bad whenever I get the urge to do something that is wrong, but this kind of puts a different spin on it. Only by trying not to do something do we feel the pressure there is to do it. It's kind of like swimming in a river, something that I've done too many times and wouldn't suggest if you're not a good swimmer. It's easy to swim with the current. All you need to do is lie on your back and point your toes up. But the only way you find out just how strong the current is doesn't happen by riding with it, it comes when you try to swim against it, putting all your force against the rushing water. Then you find out how strong the current really is.

So don't feel bad about being tempted, or even by how much you want to give in. It's highly unlikely that evil spiritual forces in this world are going to tempt you with something you don't like...

T