Mental gymnastics, contortions of the mind

Romans 8:6-11

          Twenty years ago my mom was in a nursing home. It was a tough time for everyone, especially for mom. She had to adjust to a new way of living and she was constrained by the after effects of a stroke and arthritis which was relentless in it's advance. During this time I wanted a new vehicle. I had convinced myself through mental gymnastics and whatever contortions of the mind were needed that it was a certain Chevy van with every option they had to offer. Mom could be taken out in the comfort she deserved and so would my family. It was a beautiful vehicle if I do say so. The problem was that the payments were so high that I barely had enough to run the thing.  It was a testament to what I am capable of, and we are all capable of, if you let yourself go into those mental gymnastics to convince yourself something is the right thing to do.  As a side note too, my mom had so adjusted to life in the nursing home she was almost distraught and uncomfortable when we did take her out for a day trip, ice cream with the kids or whatever. The van did not even benefit her as I had convinced myself.

           This would be an example of how I set my mind on the flesh, the worldly, the material. I have come a long way since then but I am sure I am quite capable under the right circumstances to convince myself what is right and when it really very wrong. Perhaps not evil wrong or sinfully wrong but wrong none the less and certainly not leading me forward in my journey to God and salvation, no matter how well intentioned.

       That's the thing about the material world versus the spiritual realm.  When you set your mind and heart on the Spirit, there is peace, calm and assurety.   The material is a line to be flirted with very carefully. That line shifts and you can easily fall down the slippery slope into thinking that you can have your cake and eat it too. As the passage says, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.

          Please do not misunderstand me now, there is nothing wrong with the finer things in life if they are kept in perspective. Wealth is not wrong but what good do you do with it if you are so blessed?   Many of us fool ourselves into thinking "I earned it", these are more of those mental gymnastics and rationalizations we use on ourselves.

           A major focus of Lent is alms giving. What do we do with what we have been given? Almost certainly we have more than most. What have we done for our brothers and sisters lately? When have we fed the poor?  Is that some one else's job? Or do you believe that those less fortunate should just go out and get a job?  That kind of thinking is just more 'exercise'.

To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law-- indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.