It doesn't surprise me that such a tenet has been written even in the Holy Bible. Obviously my namesake Saint Paul must have noticed the crazed pilgrims clamouring for free fish and loaves of bread and thanked God for placing that tenet in the leftover Commandments - that weren't tossed down Mount Sinai by a pissed off Moses.
Do not be envious of your neighbor's wife, his slave, his maid, his ox, his donkey, or anything else that is your neighbor's.
Obviously not coveting other's precious possessions remains quite relevant even in today's world of material wealth. Surely not the maid and his wife, I'm sure but perhaps that gorgeous Chris Evans lookalike slave he dragged back in chains from his travels in the wilds of Germania. Now, that would be something to covet.
Makes you thing about things that we covet. Perhaps even more so especially when I was faced with such a wild display just this morning - when I faced the insane pandemonium in the exhibition hall during the lunch break. Reminiscent of a bunch of starving vultures descending upon their carrion prey, we had a swarm of ravenous white-coated physicians alighting on the hapless drug sales representatives demanding their various goodies.
Caught up in the ensuing madness - and no doubt envying my neighbour's possessions, I couldn't help but participate in the all-out madness but at the same time, I felt an almost hysterical laughter bubbling inside of me. God, I was going insane. What the hell am I gonna do with a dozen bags, a thousand notepads and a million pens? Open my own stationery store? Sigh.
Although I am not at all hyper-religious, I believe I shall try my best after this not to covet my neighbour's assets. Watching a bevy of half-delirious doctors fighting over the fricking notepads was quite enough to make me a repentant. Ten Hail Marys.
Although I have to admit - albeit guiltily - that I occasionally covet my neighbour's extremely healthy, virile son. Sure he's a kid almost a decade younger but he grew up damned fine. Five feet seven of pure golden suntanned masculinity, a cheerfully confident young man who finds pure enjoyment in the occasional half-naked weekend carwash therefore pandering to my prurient voyeurism. Nothing serious surely but it's always nice to have the occasional eye-candy to go with my morning paper and coffee.
Tell me, would coveting that man be breaking the commandments?
10 comments:
I think that falls under 'lust' and while it might not break a commandment, it certainly counts as a deadly sin.
There is nothing wrong with that in my personal humble opinion. :-) A lot of homos like us have that blood in us. Really. It's not pretty but it's endless. :-) Have a pretty weekend!
Lust or just perving? :-) Don't suppress this feeling buddy! Sinful or not .... we just need to work within this space!
Well well well... Why don't you take a photo of this virile sun-kissed adonis and post it here in your blog so we could be sinners altogether?
I know what you mean about drug sales reps and the circus it produces. At one site I was visiting there were two reps there and the place was going bonkers. While staff was fighting over the goodies, the sales reps were pumping me for info on rumored layoffs of sales people since the merger and double staffing. Crazed.
Oh, yes, and just send that young man you were mentioning to me. ;)
The commandment is sometimes translated "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's ass..." instead of "donkey". But looking and not touching, or simply rejoicing in the beauty of a neighbor....where's the harm in that?
--Geoff
If he were the neighbour's boyfriend or slave, it would probably count as coveting ... or (oddly enough) if you wanted to have him as your own son. Otherwise it's just lustful thoughts, I guess. ;oP
I'm not sure if accumulating stationery is a sin, but it can certainly be addictive. :o)
Eyep, lust not jealousy here. But somehow I think that's a deadly sin that doesn't bother you too much. ;)
A Blessed Sunday to you and hmmm... Thous Shalt not covet thy Neighbour's goods...but Jesus sums it all up so simply..Love thy Neighbour as thou Love Thyself....(used to joke with the seminarians that this is Jesus way of allowing masturbation and also to "love" your neighbour :P
True, Lust is a deadly sin, but you should then Apply 3 of the 7 Virtues, which is Love, Generosity and Kindness and help out your neighbour in a state of half undress and clean his car and maybe then ask him to help you clean your car......... There's nothing wrong in being a friendly and helpful neighbour is it?
Hoo Boy!! Thank God I didn't join the priesthood, for God knows what teachings I'll end up delivering during Sermon's hahahaha..then again..it might be the most popular Church in town.. hahahaha
Thanks, Jay, a little sin is fine by me :)
Really, shigeki... can I come over and check you out then?
Definite perving going on, Ian. I didn't suppress it at all.. was ogling like crazy. Poor boy. No photos...mark. Wouldn't want the poor boy to call the cops on me.
If I had that young man, I'd keep him warm and safe in my arms.. so sue, you can come visit him here.
Geoff, yup certainly coveting my neighbour's ass.
Accumulating stationery, ru :)
Thanks for the thumbs up, jjebay.
Certainly right, Daniel.
But nothing beats Quavadis :) I am certainly going to spread the love soon.
Paul
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