Vices and the wisdom of snake charming
Ignorance is the primary source of all misery and vice. ~Victor Cousins
Why be ignorant? Pick your vices, but do it wisely.
Imagine you are watching a snake charmer. He plays his pipe and mesmerizes the serpent who is captivated by the melody. The charmer sits just inches away staring into a den of danger. He knows a strike could be deadly. Or does he?
Snake charmer’s often remove the fangs or poison glands of the snake before they begin their musical interlude. The show gives the impression of danger, yet the danger is gone. The act is nonetheless fascinating.
What does this have to do with vices and wisdom?
A vice is a foible, a bad habit, a weakness. It shows up as poor judgement and depravity. Given free rein, vices can be all consuming and uncontrollable. Danger abounds.
To me, a little old vice here and there is a necessity. They relieve stress, help blow off steam or take the edge off the more serious side of life when they are indulged in with care.
It’s when they are taken to extreme that they become troublesome.
A woman I knew drank cola all day from morning till night. She’d end up consuming five or six colas every day. I’d watch her open one, start sipping and within a couple hours open another and so on.
She had an office job and didn’t move around much. Her cola drinking indiscretion led to her being excessively overweight.
Would you call this a vice?
Drinking, gambling, drugs and sex come to mind as the consummate transgressions of immorality. But what about my cola drinking friend who’s simple guilty pleasure turned into something with overriding negative effects? The biggest trouble is that she doesn’t recognize it.
When a vice is left uncontrolled leading to unhealthy, corrupt or immoral activity all wisdom is lost. The wise will learn how to set limits, removing the danger while enjoying the show.
However, it’s difficult to recognize when limits are needed as well as difficult to place boundaries for self control. It requires something I like call “beside yourself thinking.” In other words, look at what you are doing as if you are an outsider.
Imagine you are witnessing someone else doing exactly what you are doing. What would you think of that person? It’s tricky. But try it.
Imagine you’re the snake charmer mesmerizing your vices with a bewitching charm. How do you remove the danger while indulging your corrupt desires?
Question is . . . do you have control over your vices or do your vices have control over you? Take on the wisdom of a snake charmer, remove the danger and then delight.
