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Kristin McNulty

Professor Strawn

English Writing 102

10 October 2009

Cause-and-Effect Analysis Paragraph FFD

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will

also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who

sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Living a life that is based on

spiritual/saintly principles will bring peace to a soul. Inner peace cannot be bought or

stolen. It can be earned. Regardless of religious beliefs, from childhood on, lessons are

learned about behaviors; whether good or bad, the action justifies the reward. Talking

back to adults earns time standing in the corner. Gorging on fatty foods, sweets, and

high calorie deserts, along with limited exercise, earns added pounds and poor health.

Dishonesty and lies to friends, earns a lack of trust. Alternatively, if the talk is good, the

food healthy, and the words are true, the consequences are also good. The outstanding

consequences for spiritual living are earned in much the same manner. For example,

true acceptance of others and situations that are beyond one’s control is a spiritual

principle that when practiced and mastered, will bring harmony. This harmony is a

pleasing effect that will touch every aspect of life. The tricky part is learning that

acceptance does not have to mean approval. It means to realize the truth yet tolerate it

without protest, complaint or objection. On the contrary, lack of acceptance brings

frustration, disappointment, dissatisfaction and annoyance, and harmony cannot live

there. Another spiritual principle that will encourage serenity is that of forgiveness.
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Forgiveness gives birth to healing and love. A willingness to forgive, and to be forgiven,

builds a pathway free from wounds, a pathway without hate and discontentment. An

inability to forgive is like a dirty, open wound which has become infected, suppurating,

and painful. Where there is hate there cannot be love. Where there is hate there is

sorrow, but where there is love there is joy. Last, but certainly not least, is humility. It is

the absence of ego and false pride. To be humble is to be meek and modest, lacking

arrogance and feelings of superiority. Humility is a knowledge and belief that all things

living, large or small are equally important and have a place in this world. The act of

being humble is not conceited or proud; it is not stuck up or snobby. It is not better than

thou. Jesus once said, “. . . And the second [commandment] is like, namely this, Thou

shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than

these. . .” With humility in the heart it is easier to practice spiritual principles in most

every situation throughout the day. It generates genuine happiness for the

accomplishments of others, and an ability to still love an enemy. Humility makes it

easier to accept the losses, hardships, or tribulations in life. Recognizing faults and

character defects, not as obstacles, but seeing them for what they are meant to be (an

opportunity to alter those behaviors for the better) will become a way of life. In other

words, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction and taking care to sow

spiritual principles, for spiritual reasons, will reap spiritual rewards for the achiever.

Source(s) of information:

The Blue Letter Bible, King James Version, http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?

b=Gal&c=6
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Serenity: A Companion for Twelve Step Recovery, by Robert Hemfelt and Richard
Fowler, Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers (1990)
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Article published as Humility,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humility
AC Associated Content,
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/234041/six_steps_to_help_you_forgive_those
.html?cat=41