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OPINION
THE HABIT OF ALL
By Waldo Malan
Iwas reflecting on my own penchant to fall into all kinds of habits, People form habits, and as I’ve said, some are good and some are bad.
and at first I thought I was unique in this, until I realized that all The habit of eating is good since it keeps us alive, but at the same time
people are creatures of habit. This is not simply because we choose we can form bad eating habits that will speed our death. Some stuff
certain habits (although this is true), but really, just the way we were is outright bad for eating and will cause instantaneous death, prevent-
made. From birth to our death we are creatures of habit. When we first ing us from forming a habit with that! Many habits are destructive to
made our appearance on earth, we all got a slap, pinch or some other our bodies, but then there are the habits that are destructive to our
incentive from a doctor or nurse to take our first breath. And voilá, the spirit and soul, and these effect the people around us, and ultimately
habit of breathing is formed. After that we took on the habit of eating, our own future. It is for this reason that God encourages all people to
sleeping, crying (later becoming a more intelligible communication), follow His habits, and He even took the time to have His bestseller, The
cleaning, and so forth. Throughout our lives we pile habit upon habit, Book Of Habits, written for us. Habitual anger, resentment, taking of-
not only to survive, but ultimately to make sense of this world we are fense and unforgiveness are a few habits that will kill our spirit, deaden
in. our perception and destroy our passion. Habitual peace, joy, gentleness
and love, on the other hand, will revive our spirit and have a positive
As we mature, the nature of our habits change, and they start having outflow in our body.
many, varied and far-reaching implications. Some habits are better
than others, some are outright good for us, and yet others are totally It would make sense therefore, that every now and then we take stock
destructive and evil to the core. This made me think about God, from of the habits we have surrounded ourselves with, especially those
whom, I believe, we all come. I believe God to be the Creator of all, and habits we have come to regard as friends. Are they really friends?
therefore, also the creator of me. In fact, it was Moses who recorded Are they really good for us? Do we really benefit from having them
(by divine inspiration) the conversation in heaven where God decided around? Then, after taking stock, make the decision for some Spring
to make people in His image and after His likeness. So, my reasoning cleaning where needed, and rid ourselves of those who turn out to be
says that if I know a little bit about God, I will also know a little bit about unfriendly, ungainly and ultimately unwanted.
myself. Obviously, the more I get to know God, the more I get to know
myself. Let us get into the habit of examining our habits and clear out decisive-
ly those that hamper our vision and passion. Let us cultivate new habits
God is a God of habit. Many people in the past and present, have made that will encourage our creativity, energize our vigor, and regenerate
the statement (after getting to know God), that He has always been, our passion for life! Someone once said that first we make our habits,
still is, and will forever be the same – He doesn’t change. So what and then our habits make us! Success or failure? Which do you want?
habits of God do I know about? Well, for one, He has the habit of being The philosopher Aristotle remarked, “We are what we repeatedly do.
kind, good and loving. He has the habit of doing good. He has the habit Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”
of constantly seeking out my company. He has the habit of being just
and fair. And He has the habit of displaying grace in His dealings with [follow Waldo’s daily blog at tintravels.wordpress.com]
me.
NOVEMBER 2016 | 15
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