Pet Sins

As I mentioned in a earlier post, I recently read The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis.  What an interesting book.  It wasn't at all what I had expected.  It is the story of a man who has died, and gone to hell.  He doesn't like it there so he decides, along with several other people, to take the bus to Heaven, have a look around and decide if he would like it better there.  While he is just outside of Heaven deciding whether, to go or stay, he observes several people trying to make the same decision.  One person he encountered had a little red lizard on his shoulder that kept whispering things in his ear.  At first this man was uncomfortable with the things the lizard was saying, but after a time he began to smile.  An angel approached the man and asked he if he would like for him to make the lizard  be quiet.
"Of course I would," replied the man.
The angle told him he would have to kill the lizard.
"'You didn't say anything about killing him at first.  I hardly meant to bother you with anything so drastic as that.'"
The angel replied that it was the only way, and asked again if he might kill it.
The man replied that it was a matter that could be discussed later.
"There is no time, " said the angel, and asked again if he could kill it.
This time the man says that there really is no need for that, he is sure he can keep the lizard under control, and that he thinks, "the gradual process would be far better than killing it."
"The gradual process is of no use at all,"  says the angel.
The man says he will think it over for a while, and that he really isn't feeling well today, so it would be "most silly to do it now. I'd need to be in good health for the operation.  Some other day, perhaps."
The angel tells him that there is no other day.
As the angel gets closer to the man the man yells at him to get back, "How can I tell you to kill it?" says the man, "you'd kill me if you did."
"It is not so."  replies the angel.
"Why , you're hurting me now."
"I never said it wouldn't hurt you.  I said it wouldn't kill you."
The angel continues to ask if he may kill the lizard, and each time the man makes some excuse of why it can't be done right now.

As I read this part of the story it reminded me of a man that called the Dr. Laura show for help with his pornography addiction.
Dr. Laura:  Hi, how can I help you?
Caller:  I'm calling because I'm addicted to pornography and I need some advice on how to get over this addiction.
Dr. Laura:  Stop looking at pornography.
Caller: Well, like I said, I'm addicted, so I know it is going to be a long process to stop looking at it.
Dr. Laura:  No it won't, just don't look at it anymore.
Caller:  Wow, that would be really hard to do.
Dr. Laura:  I never said it was going to be easy to stop, but you must decided that you are never going to look at pornography again and then never look at it again.
The man seemed disappointed.  He knew what he was doing was wrong or he wouldn't have called the show, but he wasn't prepared to really stop, just yet.  He didn't want to kill his addiction, he wanted the "gradual process" thinking the gradual process wouldn't hurt as much.

As I have thought about this, I've thought about how we all, me especially, have pet sins.  Sins that we keep with us because it would be too uncomfortable to let them go. They whisper in our ear the reasons we need to keep them, "it will be too hard to change,  right now isn't a good time, or we can gradually stop later."  This way of thinking is wrong.  There will never be the perfect time to let it go, it's never going to be easy, but sooner is always better then later.  

I love reading in the Book of Mormon where Aaron teaches King Lamoni's father the plan of salvation. King Lamoni's father has such pure and simple faith.  He asks Aaron what he needs to do to obtain eternal life.  Aaron tells him that he must bow down before God, repent of his sins, and believe.  King Lamoni's father does just what Aaron instructs.  He calls upon God and says, "I will give away all my sins to know thee" (Alma 22:18).  It's easy for me to say of course, I would give up all my sins to know God also, but it is a bit harder when I really sit and think about it.  Am I willing to give up a favorite t.v. show because it has inappropriate content, am I ready to give up my favorite radio station because most of the songs contain references to sex, am I willing to put aside time on the computer to read my scriptures, am I willing to kneel and pray next to my bed at night instead of laying down where it is more comfortable and warm.  The list goes on and on.

In the preface of The Great Divorce, C. S. Lewis says, "If we insist on keeping Hell (or even Earth) we shall not see Heaven:  if we accept Heaven we shall not be able to retain even the smallest and most intimate souvenirs of Hell."  Do we have"intimate souvenirs of Hell" and "pet sins" that we are holding onto, or are we like King Lamoni's Father, willing to give up all our sins to know God?