Open Question: Why don't I (we) do what brings me (us) the most pleasure?

I've been thinking about this for a few days and I have absolutely no idea why this is, so I thought I would ask you all for some input on this. 

This past Monday I was trying to decide between doing two things in the evening: reading some more of The Idiot or watching Monday Night Football. In the long run I knew that reading would bring me more pleasure and satisfaction than watching football, especially since the game probably wasn't going to be very good, but it was still such a strong temptation to watch the game even though I knew that I would be more satisfied by reading. On this particular occasion I ended up reading, but only because I realized what was going on and took the time to think through what was happening. 

I would like to know if anyone can relate to this and has any idea as to why we decide to do the thing that we know won't satisfy us long term. Sure it might bring us short term satisfaction, but if we know ahead of time that something else will bring us more satisfaction in the long run, why do the other thing? 

Sometimes we have obligations that take us away from doing the things that will bring us that long term satisfaction, but those are not the situations I am talking about here. What I am talking about here is those situations where there are no obligations that prevent you from doing something. I am talking about those situations where there is nothing preventing you from choosing either one.

Anyone?

The Third Greatest Commandment? ... Also, An Experiment in Monkery: Day 13

Monkery Update
 
I've had to modify the experiment down to two meditations per day instead of three. I've gotten really busy with various things (that weren't on the radar when I started!) and doing three a day is just unworkable. I realized that while I was doing the three daily meditations that I was losing touch with reality because it was such a shock to me when I actually had some real world responsibilities. They basically took me by surprise and I wished that I could have avoided doing them. But alas, I could not, and so I have modified the experiment so that I can tend to these real world responsibilities. I think it is a good thing that I have had to modify this experiment though.

I've been thinking for the past few days about what Jesus would have said the third greatest commandment was. I think he would have said, "Do not covet what belongs to your neighbor." 

An Experiment In Monkery: Day 4

It has become apparent to me that doing 3 1-hour meditations a day is difficult if you have any sort of real world responsibilities. In order to do this indefinitely you would have to be a monk! However, I have managed to keep the schedule, only missing one meditation because of a certain football game. Ahem.

I am enjoying having a certain period of time to focus my thoughts on one subject. Since writing helps me think better my journal is quickly filling up with thoughts on the passages I have been meditating on. In 4 days I have managed to fill up 5 pages in my 11x9 journal. There are so many good thoughts in there that one day will hopefully see the light of day in some fashion. It's like having a storehouse of good ideas and waiting for the day when you get to bust them out.


Here is my reflection for today from Matthew 7:7-11:

It is important to realize that this passage is not saying that everything a Christian asks for and seeks after will be given to him. The passage implies that fathers give good gifts to their children, not bad ones. If a child asks his father for a harmful gift would the father grant his child's request because he or she earnestly desired it? Of course not! The father knows what is good for the child and will not give him or her something that would be harmful, even if he or she earnestly desired it.

A good father though would not simply deny the request and leave it at that. A good father would show his child what is good to desire and seek after. And so when the child asks for one of these good things the father gladly grants the request because he knows that it is good for the child to have this thing. 

If our earthly fathers know how to do this, then how much more does our heavenly father? 

Through all the denied requests to earnest prayers we learn to desire what is good for us and ask for that instead. We learn to desire and seek after Christ and ask to be like him. 

An Experiment In Monkery: Day 1

Today marks the first day of my monkery experiment. I'm not planning on doing a post everyday so as not to overwhelm everyone with posts. I'm planning on doing one every couple of days of though.


So lets get into the experiences of the first day. 


For the morning meditation I've decided to use the readings from the SOARing devotional. Except for today I used the one from September 30th (Galatians 3:1-14) because I didn't see them listed on the right side and it was the latest audio file available. *dunce cap*