INVIDIA

Envy.

Jealousy, Malice.

Google describes “Malice” as: feeling a need to see others suffer.

If you cause others to suffer, it makes it rather hard to show them love. I can’t say that I avidly on a conscious level suffer from malice. I do believe in the eye for an eye concept, but in the sense that it was intended (to prevent the escalation of violence) not in the crazy ass scary republican sense where you shoot the guy who stabbed you.

Having a problem with Wrath however, I think malice would be much better grouped with Wrath then it is with Envy. But not being perfect myself, it’s a bit like splitting hairs. A sin is a sin, I would just prefer to narrow the list down to 3 then 4, especially when it is only 4 by technicality.

I still have a hard time though admitting to the fact that I deal with malice, especially when I have such a Batman sense of justice.

“Why Edward… what do you mean?”

Well, Batman never killed the Joker, or any villain, because he believed in people. He gave people the benefit of the doubt and believed that they could change. God doesn’t want His people to suffer, and so, the only time the thought crosses my mind, are when it comes to Hitler/Stalin like people, who cause great suffering in others.

As for Jealousy… well, let’s think for a moment…

I am not…
*…as good with money as Val,
*…as patient as Phil,
*…as peace seeking as Luke,
*…as well liked by people as Andrew,
*…as loaded with degrees as Pastor Dave,
*…as good of a cook as my Mother (either blood or camp mom),
*…as good of an operator of machinery as my Step-Father,
*…good at math like Michelle or Vic,
*…good at music like Matthew and David M.,
*…as good at studying as my Sister,
*…in the same great shape that my Brother-in-Law or friend George are in,
*…as tall as Shaun,
*…as good of a writer as Ryan,
*…have as good of hair as Matt B.,
*…as good of a teacher/speaker as Pastor Aaron,
*…as popular as Jessica (either Q.Crespo or Bishop),
*…as well traveled as Jason K.,
*…as loaded with as many languages as any of my European friends,
*…as good with accounting as Deanna,
*…good enough at my own mother tongue (Spanish) to teach it properly like Angie,
*…as dependable as Stacy,
*…as smart as my professors and advisers,
*…as funny as Ed.


Well shit… what’s left?


Consider this…

The Bald Eagle is the national bird of the greatest country on earth, the United States of America.

Let’s take a look at the Bald Eagle.

*It is not the largest bird; that would be the ostrich.
*It is not the highest flying bird; the record goes to a Ruppell’s Vulture.
*It is not the fastest swimming (and yes, they can swim); the Gentoo Penguin is the Michael Phelps of the bird world.
*It is not the tallest flying bird; the Cranes of the Gruidae family are.
*They are not the heaviest birds of prey; the Condor is.
*Bald Eagles do not have the longest feathers; the phoenix fowl (a type of rooster bred in Japan) holds that record.
*The Australian Pelican has the longest bill; not the Bald Eagle.
*Woodcocks have the largest field of vision at 360 degrees; a lot more then the Bald Eagle’s.
*The Wandering Albatross possesses the largest wingspan, up to 4 feet larger than the largest recorded Bald Eagle’s wingspan.
*The Bald Eagle on average tops out at 40 mph OR 100 mph during a dive; the Peregrine falcon can dive at up to 168 mph.
*There is often much debate between which bird; whether the Peregrine Falcon, Hawk, or Owl; has the greatest eyesight, the Bald Eagle’s is only about 4-5 times better than man’s.
*It has the second largest nest, second to the Mallee Fowl of Australia.


Basically… what makes it National Bird worthy?

It might not be the highest flying, but it DOES fly high.
It might not have the greatest vision, but it DOES have great vision.
It might not carry the most prey, but it DOES hunt and it DOES carry away large amounts of prey.
The Bald Eagle is also the ONLY bird that does not fly away from a storm, but sits it out.

Sure, I’m not as “nice a guy” as my best friends, but I don’t take as much shit from people.

I might not be left brained, but, I can write, speak, and I can be creative and deal with concepts that don’t have specific rules like math, language, and music do; due to my awesome right brain.

And, as for my fellow right brainers from SB well… ok, you win on that one. BUT! #1 I can still eat Bacon and #2 the military doesn’t even want my hair that long (I philos you two though, Ryan & Matt)

I might not have that many degrees or dollars in my bank account, but I’m rich with life experiences.

No, I don’t have a problem with Envy, certainly not in the Jealousy form. I do know why it is considered a deadly sin. It ruins relationships. Jealousy in others, has ripped 3 people out of my life that I thought would always be there. They took care of me, my parents trusted them with my life. They watched over me the day my father died, and yet, where are they now? God knows. They also took a “good” friend of mine with them when they left my family’s lives. And all as a result of jealousy, I can’t even watch “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” the same way ever again, because Tula and her parents remind me so much of the traitor and her family.

This may fall under the Pride category, but I think it fairly safe to say, Envy, is NOT one of the ways I put Christ to death (although there are plenty of others)