The Temptation to Get Away With It

CS Lewis described being subject to the temptation of the “inner ring.”  Not being in academic circles that isn’t a temptation for me very often.

But there is a temptation I run into from time to time, and its the temptation to get away with something.  You might think I’m describing the temptation to do some sin, facilitated by being able to get away with it.  But that is not what I’m describing.  There have been times when I did something I had no real desire to do just because I was in a position where I could get away with something and I wanted to get away with something.    I’m not saying any great or malignant sin, but things like laziness or gluttony, done without any real pleasure just for the temptation of getting away with something.

The only real antidote I have found is to actually desire something.  So instead of ‘getting away with it’ it doesn’t even occur to me that I could get away with something, because I have real goals.  This is the difference between actual power and pretend power.

They say in the last days that every secret will be shouted from the rooftops.  This is not just a warning to the ‘get away with it’ men, but a blessing to the rest of us.  All the good you do will be made known.