Penance

 

In saying, “Go and sin no more,”

Jesus was not speaking of sinless

perfection. He was warning against

a return to sinful lifestyle choices.

As a child and young man, as a

Catholic going regularly to Confession

at the time, after the priest gave me

my penance, he would repeat those

words Jesus was reported as saying.

“Go and Sin no more.”

I was a pathetic wretch who couldn’t

seem to master the fine art of sinless-

ness. Week after week, I tried to apply

that sage advise, but always came up

short. Not that my sins were all that

grievous, but you know, a little lie here

and there, a bad word or lascivious

thought were my typical

weaknesses.

Well, as I aged, I skipped the Con-

fession thing, quit going to church

altogether. I even managed to drop

my belief in a righteous Supreme

Being. With all the world’s problems,

why in hell would He or She be con-

cerned with me flipping someone off?

No need for you or anyone else to

worry about my departed soul being

lost for eternity, I still believe whole-

heartedly in good over evil.

And I have come to realize, through

the aging and experiential processes,

that with all the disabling and limiting

factors which beset old folks, most

sinning, especially the physical kind

becomes far less possible.

Living alone exponentially min-

imizes many problems such as

fighting with, slapping around

and cursing at others.

The point I’m making here is that

the older and more disabled one

becomes, the less likely are the

chances for outright sinful behavior.

As a hopeful youth seeking reform,

all my sinful ways needed was a

healthy dose of patience. You know,

as the old adage goes—good things

come to those who wait.

Long story short, I’m old, disabled

and alone. I’ve lost my appetite

and physical facilities for sin. My

non-theist belief has not wavered,

but I do believe in penance and

the you’ll-get-yours karma thing.

My crappy and waning physical

and mental condition are proof

of that. In life, not in death,

I can say for sure, penance

and pay-backs are hell.

               -30-

Chris Hanch 6-9-2021