Guarding against the senses

[Skyhighblue34]

I found this today: “One great means of mortification is guarding the senses—eyes and ears, taste and touch—that they may not betray the heart into sin. I put it so general, because the man of God who is so solicitous about his eyes would not be careless of his ears and other senses. Unless we turn away our eyes from vanity—we shall soon contract a deadness of heart.”

I’ve heard before that what you do with your eyes is a sign of… something. Don’t remember what.

But over the past year, as I quit an addiction I had with the Lords help, I learned the habit of looking away whenever I saw it. And it helped immensely, I mean you can’t be tempted by what you can’t see. I really feel that it makes sense to guard the senses.

But what I want to know is, should I get a haircut?

This past year I grew my hair out long because my sister told me I looked better with it that way. I have to spend time each day combing it in front of the mirror, and I feel pride from it… looking in the mirror often…

And also, how does one guard against taste…

 

[RoseMary131]

But what I want to know is, should I get a haircut?

This past year I grew my hair out long because my sister told me I looked better with it that way. I have to spend time each day combing it in front of the mirror, and I feel pride from it… looking in the mirror often…

God has blessed you with beautiful hair. There is no need for you to cut your hair. You are even allowed to find beauty in your hair.

With this gift of beautiful hair, it does mean that you want to protect it by keeping it cleaned and brushed or combed free of tangles. You can look at yourself in the mirror and see the beauty of yourself and your hair.

Think of this: if you enjoyed the beauty of your eyes, you would look at them and say “Thank you, God, for this gift of the beauty of my eyes.”

With your hair, you can look at it and say “Thank you, God, for the gift of the beauty of my hair.”

I’m going to assume that you are not lost in hours each day staring at the mirror admiring yourself, nor that you think yourself better than others because of the gift of beautiful hair.

Some women do not cut their hair as a religious practice in honoring God, but I do not know the Bible verse.

(If one day, you do decide to cut your hair, there are places you can donate your hair if it is a certain length. These companies use donated hair to make free wigs for those who are bald. I’m not suggesting you cut your hair - only if one day you do choose to cut it.)

May you continue to give thanks to God for this gift of beautiful hair.:curtsey:

 

[ClearWater]

With someone who wanted to guard against taste…you mean food? Eat bland stuff…without salt or sugar, I guess.

I think long hair is fine, incidentally.

 

[TiggerS]

I found this today: “One great means of mortification is guarding the senses—eyes and ears, taste and touch—that they may not betray the heart into sin. I put it so general, because the man of God who is so solicitous about his eyes would not be careless of his ears and other senses. Unless we turn away our eyes from vanity—we shall soon contract a deadness of heart.”

I’ve heard before that what you do with your eyes is a sign of… something. Don’t remember what.

But over the past year, as I quit an addiction I had with the Lords help, I learned the habit of looking away whenever I saw it. And it helped immensely, I mean you can’t be tempted by what you can’t see. I really feel that it makes sense to guard the senses.

But what I want to know is, should I get a haircut?

This past year I grew my hair out long because my sister told me I looked better with it that way. I have to spend time each day combing it in front of the mirror, and I feel pride from it… looking in the mirror often…

And also, how does one guard against taste…

First, we are no islands, nor meant to be islands. We are always in a context of community somehow - so if you cut your hair, how would your family and friends feel about it? If they are happier with your hair long, then set a time for combing your hair - say morning and night and look in the mirror less often. If you feel pride about your long hair, perhaps wear something that you are not too happy wearing and thus deny your vanity.
If your family and friends are indifferent about your hair, then have it cut if you feel that way. However, what I would be doing personally, is seeking spiritual advice about what to do. Pride can be very insidious. You could cut your hair because of your pride - and then feel proud about cutting it for spiritual reasons.

Fr Stephen Valenta “How to Win The Battle with Pride” … a simple and straightforward explanation and video for striving to put things in their proper perspective re pride and humility - youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ScgdKMoXOMI

It is not at all unusual for those drawn to rather severe penances (and your hair length could be considered in this category possibly/perhaps) to perform their severe or ‘severe’ penances and then feel spiritual pride about having done so. And spiritual pride is the worst of all. This is why spiritual direction is the best way to decide as your director will be able to discern your core motivation.

Re pride. St Francis of Assisi (it is said) said that pride dies only 10 minutes after we do. In other words, we have a lifelong battle with pride in one form or another ahead of us for the rest of our lives, all of us.

Re the sense of taste. Simply deny yourself something that you like : salt on your food, sugar in your hot drinks. Eat things that are not your favourite food.

 

[christofirst]

I am reminded of the story of a group of monks out on a journey who approached a river. There at the bank was a beautiful woman, with no way to get across. One of the monks picked her up and carried her across. The other monks were scandalized, because monks were not supposed to even look at women - for fear of temptation - let alone engage with them. As they continued along grumbling, the monk who assisted the woman said, “Are you still carrying that woman? I let her go back at the river’s edge.” (or something to that effect).

The point is not to let our intention to do good become such an obsession that we neglect the greater good. I agree that long hair or short hair are both fine. What is in your heart is most important, and your heart seems to be in the right place.

 

[fred_conty]

I found this today: “One great means of mortification is guarding the senses—eyes and ears, taste and touch—that they may not betray the heart into sin. I put it so general, because the man of God who is so solicitous about his eyes would not be careless of his ears and other senses. Unless we turn away our eyes from vanity—we shall soon contract a deadness of heart.”

I’ve heard before that what you do with your eyes is a sign of… something. Don’t remember what.

But over the past year, as I quit an addiction I had with the Lords help, I learned the habit of looking away whenever I saw it. And it helped immensely, I mean you can’t be tempted by what you can’t see. I really feel that it makes sense to guard the senses.

But what I want to know is, should I get a haircut?

This past year I grew my hair out long because my sister told me I looked better with it that way. I have to spend time each day combing it in front of the mirror, and I feel pride from it… looking in the mirror often…

And also, how does one guard against taste…

You said “I mean you can’t be tempted by what you can’t see”.

There is also another way to free up your senses, by keeping your mind on Jesus. We do this by constantly having an awareness of Jesus living within us, his presense thru grace.

Thru practise, you can have a constant awareness of him even tho you are busy doing something. It is just like he is there one with you all the time. It is difficult at first to get in the habit of doing this because we just forget and the thought slips from us. But thru a little practise and patience, eventually, he becomes more a part of our conscienceness, that he is actually with us.

Once you have this awareness, then things that are harmfull become less atractive and powerful and the mind switches over to the one with you.

This does seem to require the sacraments of confession, and communion more than just weekly, to strengthen the resolve and his presence.

Once established as your companion in life, your spiritual life is different. Even tho there are still those difficult times and moments, it is different.

Here is the way to do it.
dunedin.elim.org.nz/uploads/1/2/7/8/12786940/brother_lawrence_-_the_practice_of_the_presence_of_god.pdf

May God bless and keep you. May God’s face shine on you. May God be kind to you and give you peace.