all i want...

Lewis tells us about a tiny, all encompassing greed today in A Year with C.S. Lewis.

It really does seem so innocent and simple. The little old lady he's describing, who only wants her tea and egg and toast. That's not asking too much, is it? But you see how it destroys her relationships, because "All I want" becomes all she thinks about.

The shift is so subtle. It's so easy to not even realize that you've shifted. That you've gone from thinking about loving other people, helping others, making their lives better.... to thinking that all you want is a little tea, egg, and toast and you'll be happy. To make your own happiness the paramount thing in your life.

What little thing might be standing between you and loving other people the way Jesus calls us to? It's probably different for each of us. And it's a daily struggle, at least for many of us, to set aside our petty desires and tiny greeds so that we can focus on loving God with all of our hearts, and loving other people.

God, thank You for teaching us to leave behind our tiny little tyrannies.