{"id":163,"date":"2016-01-12T18:40:44","date_gmt":"2016-01-12T18:40:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/yourmorningcupofinspiration\/?p=163"},"modified":"2016-01-12T18:40:44","modified_gmt":"2016-01-12T18:40:44","slug":"the-freedom-of-the-straight-and-narrow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/yourmorningcupofinspiration\/2016\/01\/the-freedom-of-the-straight-and-narrow.html","title":{"rendered":"The Freedom of the Straight and Narrow"},"content":{"rendered":"

The interesting thing about life is that we all start out with a body and a brain. From there, we have some variety in our experiences.\u00a0 We may be placed with parents who love us or who abuse us.\u00a0 They may care for us or ignore us.\u00a0 Then, once we are emancipated from our parents, we still have the same things \u2013 a body and a brain.\u00a0 Except now we also have choices: We can choose to live our lives walking the straight and narrow.\u00a0 Or, we can take the path that Jesus referred to as the road \u201cthat leads to destruction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEnter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.\u201d<\/em> \u00a0Matthew 7:13-14<\/p>\n

I happen to love the straight and narrow. People have funny reactions when I say that.\u00a0 Typically, I get an eye roll.\u00a0 The view is that I must be boring or lack creativity.\u00a0 Or I simply hate \u201cfun.\u201d\u00a0 Or I am being self-righteous.\u00a0 Sadly, we live in a society where exhibiting self-control over what we do or say is frowned upon.<\/p>\n

However, life has taught me that walking the straight and narrow makes everything a whole lot easier. Living a life outside of that structure is a recipe for hardship.\u00a0 So when Jesus instructs us in Matthew to \u201center through the narrow gate,\u201d he isn\u2019t trying to punish us.\u00a0 He is trying to help us.<\/p>\n

Now I\u2019m not going to belabor what is involved in walking the straight and narrow. Suffice it to say that it involves not doing things to excess, whether it be eating or drinking.\u00a0 It involves living responsibly, both with regard to our finances and with regard to our family obligations.\u00a0 It is doing every task set before us to the best of our ability.\u00a0 It means keeping our homes tidy as a courtesy to our families and neighbors.\u00a0 It means acting with restraint and not just saying or doing whatever comes to mind.\u00a0 I could go on.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll admit that all sounds rather boring. But there is tremendous freedom that comes with it.\u00a0 If I live responsibly with money, I\u2019m not worried if I get laid off unexpectedly.\u00a0 I have a financial cushion that will see me through to my next job.\u00a0 If I don\u2019t overeat, I am not in the position of continually trying to lose 10 pounds.\u00a0 If I keep my home tidy and clean, I readily can have people come visit me without embarrassment.\u00a0 If I uphold my marriage vows to love, respect and cherish my spouse, I likely won\u2019t have to go through the pain and trauma of a divorce.\u00a0 Much of life is easier on the straight and narrow.<\/p>\n

When we don\u2019t live with this kind of restraint, not only do we make our lives harder, but we make the lives of our families and friends harder too. Have you ever known someone whose first words to you typically are, \u201cUgh!\u00a0 You won\u2019t believe what just happened!\u201d\u00a0 And you think to yourself, \u201cOh yes, I think I would.\u201d\u00a0 Those are the people who simply can\u2019t live on the straight and narrow.\u00a0 Screwed up things just happen to them mysteriously<\/em>.\u00a0 And then they bring their brand of drama to everyone else\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n

When we live our lives on the straight and narrow, we are free. We are free of unnecessary stress, health problems and conflict.\u00a0 Our lives run more smoothly when we live responsibly.\u00a0 And then we have time to relax and do those things that make us happy.\u00a0 And that is liberating indeed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The interesting thing about life is that we all start out with a body and a brain. From there, we have some variety in our experiences.\u00a0 We may be placed with parents who love us or who abuse us.\u00a0 They may care for us or ignore us.\u00a0 Then, once we are emancipated from our parents,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":593,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Freedom of the Straight and Narrow - Your Morning Cup of Inspiration<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, nofollow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Freedom of the Straight and Narrow - Your Morning Cup of Inspiration\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The interesting thing about life is that we all start out with a body and a brain. From there, we have some variety in our experiences.\u00a0 We may be placed with parents who love us or who abuse us.\u00a0 They may care for us or ignore us.\u00a0 Then, once we are emancipated from our parents,…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/yourmorningcupofinspiration\/2016\/01\/the-freedom-of-the-straight-and-narrow.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Your Morning Cup of Inspiration\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-01-12T18:40:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Meerabelle Dey\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Freedom of the Straight and Narrow - Your Morning Cup of Inspiration","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"nofollow"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Freedom of the Straight and Narrow - Your Morning Cup of Inspiration","og_description":"The interesting thing about life is that we all start out with a body and a brain. 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